Dalwhinnie 15 Year

Very sweet, full bodied, quite spicy. Not for me.

Turf

Little bit of smoke - nice and tasty

The Highland Representative of Diageo's Classic Malts Collection, Dalwhinnie 15. It might also be one of the more underappreciated, as its peated contemporaries tend to steal the show. Yet, this remains widely-available and well-represented in bars--it's been a reliable option for me on many occasions. Nose: Honey, vanilla frosting, toffee, and salted caramel. Lime and orange citrus. Apple, banana, pear, peach, apricot, and honeydew. Saltwater taffy, which is interesting for a standard, upeated-Highland malt. Clean, floral, and oaky. Very nice. Palate: Vanilla and caramel. Apple, pear, apricot, orange, green grape, and golden raisin. Toffee and honey. Cereal and malt. More floral and oak notes. Just a touch salt and brine. Not as complex as the nose but just as pleasant. Finish: Sugar cookie, vanilla frosting, and caramel. Apricot, raisin, apple, and clementine. Almond. A bit of spice: black pepper, nutmeg, clove, and oak. Short-moderate length. "The Gentle Spirit" says the label. I'd say that's a fair description. This one is rock solid. I wish the body delivered the way the nose does, but there's already enough to like about this one. 15 years is a respectable number. $62 for a 15-year is a bargain. And this drinks better than many of its contemporaries in that regard. I have a feeling that this would excel at 45-46% ABV. Maybe even a tad higher. Outside of that, no complaints here. This has been one of my absolute favorite Highland malts for years, and no matter how many new finds I get under my belt, this one continues to stand out. 4/5.