Dalwhinnie 15 Year Old is the flagship of one of Scotland's highest distilleries, and one of the six original Classic Malts chosen by Diageo in 1988. It is a gentle, honeyed Highland malt that works as well for someone new to Scotch as it does for a seasoned drinker who wants something easy after a long day.
About This Whisky
The 15 Year Old matures in American oak casks that previously held bourbon, which keeps the focus on the distillery's heather-honey character rather than on wood. It is bottled at 43% ABV, a touch above the usual 40%, and sits in the Classic Malts line-up alongside Lagavulin, Talisker, Oban, Cragganmore and Glenkinchie.
Tasting Profile
- Nose: Heather honey and vanilla, with green pear, apple blossom and a wisp of peat in the background.
- Palate: Soft and smooth, with honey, toffee, malted bread and citrus, then a gentle build of cinnamon and ginger.
- Finish: Medium length, sweet at first, drying to malt and a faint smoky edge.
Serving & Food
Serve at room temperature in a tumbler or tasting glass; a splash of cold water brings the orchard fruit forward. It also makes a fine highball with soda and lemon peel. Good partners are smoked salmon on rye, grilled scallops or a wedge of mild Wensleydale.
How to Enjoy
Newcomers to single malt, and those after a dependable, unpeated everyday dram.
Product Details
Distillery: Dalwhinnie
Age: 15 years old
Category: Highland single malt Scotch whisky
Country: Scotland
Region: Highland
Cask: Ex-bourbon American oak
ABV / Strength: 43% ABV
Bottle size / Format: 700mL
About the Distillery
Dalwhinnie stands in the Cairngorms National Park beside the A9, a little over 1,000 feet above sea level, which puts it among the highest working distilleries in Scotland. Three local men built it in 1897 as the Strathspey distillery; the venture failed within a year and new owners renamed it Dalwhinnie. It came into the Distillers Company in 1926 and is now part of Diageo. Water comes from the Allt an t-Sluic spring, and the spirit is condensed in worm tubs, which gives the new make a waxy weight under its honeyed surface.
Most of the output goes into Diageo blends such as Buchanan's and Black & White, so single malt bottlings are a small share of what the site produces.