Dalwhinnie 30 Year Old Special Release 2019 - 1 Bottle

This small batch of Dalwhinnie enjoys rich layers of flavour, developed over 30 years of maturation since 1987/88 in refill hogsheads and butts. They have brought to a peak of perfection the moorland aromas and smoothly sweet, yet also surprisingly peppery, tastes that define the distillery character.

Deep gold, with copper lights. Good beading. Medium to full. A mild nose overall, with some light prickle. The top notes are vegetal and faintly smoky, as with a snuffed candle, almost suggesting a Halloween pumpkin lantern; the overall impression is savoury, with a light sweetness suggesting moorland heather pollen. The base notes are of spicy fresh-planed wood, which if a drop of water is added becomes light balsa wood. Much sweeter at first after this, with a tangy, fruity note of pickled ginger. At natural strength, pleasantly smooth in texture; the taste is immediately rich, sweet and savoury, then unexpectedly and appealingly becomes smoky. Adding a drop of water makes it really smooth, and slightly sweeter, yet it remains appetisingly savoury. The spiciness and smokiness still come through, and linger in the finish.