15 Year Old

Slow to give of its secrets, with mere hints of a fruity richness and spicy complexity to come. A swirl of the glass releases enticing, clean vanilla notes and tropical fruit. Soon, the fruits are dried (light fruit cake with flaked almonds). Adding water brings out typical Speyside character, and makes the nose slightly more acidic. Late on, at last, greater depth and complexity: sweet, spicy and rich, finishing with dense toffee and toasted coconut.

Slow to venture forth and quite viscous straight. Cooling, then peppery and lightly charred. Growing richer, still sweet, but now with toffee and chocolate; burnt sugar on a Creme Brulee. With water, less viscous and sweeter with almost no acidity; very pleasant and easy to drink.

Smooth, light and slightly drying, with attractive bitter chocolate notes. Not overly long, with a hint of faint smoke at the end.

Dalwhinnie distillery sits between the Grampian and Monadhliath mountain ranges of Inverness-Shire. Dalwhinnie is Scotland’s highest working distillery.