Regular readers of this site will know we love a good whisky, and a good Scotch single malt is hard to beat. I’ve been meaning to check out the Dalwhinnie 15 year old scotch for a while now, and finally bagged myself a bottle.
So how does this dram go down? And is it worth getting a bottle yourself for your drinks cabinet?
What kind of whisky is Dalwhinnie?
The Dalwhinnie distillery is based in northern Scotland, in the highlands close to the Speyside region. Whisky fans will already be aware that Speyside is the region with the most whisky distilleries in Scotland, and is home to some of the best whiskies.
Fun fact: the Dalwhinnie distillery is the highest whisky distillery in Scotland – and apparently the coldest.
Fans of Scottish whisky will also know that Speyside and highland whisky tend not to be heavily peated. In fact, most whiskies from this region are more on the side of sweet and with notes of fruits, honey and peaches – that kind of vibe.
This gives Speyside whiskies a reputation for being and a more elegant drinking experience with much smoother tastes. This is the region that produced Glenfiddich, Chivas Regal and Glenlivet – so you can see what we’re looking at here.
So – with that in mind, how does the Dalwhinnie 15 year old scotch whisky match up?
Tasting notes of Dalwhinnie 15 year old
On the nose, the first impressions of Dalwhinnie’s 15 year old whisky is notes of pear and honey. Many tasting notes mention brine or citrus – maybe it’s just me but I didn’t find this whisky particularly briney on the nose. There is a slight hint of lemon zest for me though.
The first sip is definitely dominated by sweet notes. Vanilla, honey, pears and that hint of brine all come though on the palate.
Considering that the Dalwhinnie 15 year old comes in at 43%, I was actually pleasantly surprised at the lack of burn on this whisky. Personally I found it extremely smooth and drinkable, with the slightest alcohol burn and a pleasant aftertaste.
Talking of which…
Giving the whisky a moment to sit on the tongue definitely brings out some subtle toffee notes, at least to my own taste. Given time to sit on the palate, the Dalwhinnie 15 does have subtle spice and very muted pepper notes – which might even be a hint of that Scotch heather.
In fact, most of the flavours in the Dalwhinnie came across as very subtle. I have seen mentions of raisin or spice. For me the dominant flavour is definitely the fruity sweetness.
Adding a dash of water smooths out that alcohol harshness and definitley allows the sweetness and fruity notes to shine through.
How to drink the Dalwhinnie 15 year old scotch
I’d suggest that the Dalwhinnie 15 year old is definitely one to enjoy neat, or at the most with a cube of ice or a dash of cold spring water. The smooth sweetness might also lend it’s use to a simple whisky cocktail, for example a Scotch based old fashioned. But I wouldn’t want to mix it with sodas or mixers for fear of losing the enjoyable flavour profile.
This is definitely one for easy drinking on a cool evening, or even over ice during the warmer months.
Our verdict: An easy drinking and very smooth Scotch whisky with a sweet flavour profile that is very easy on the palate. One to enjoy as either an aperitif or after dinner dram.
Our rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Buy from: Amazon £38
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