It’s been at least 5, maybe even 6 years since I reviewed the Lagavulin 9, which I believe was the Lannister bottle. That was solid, but I had a fair comparison with the mainstay Lagavulin 8. I hadn’t seen the show then, but I watched the whole thing a year ago. This is just an NAS Dalwhinnie, so I’m not expecting much here. Choosing a Highland malt is a fair choice to represent the Starks, though. Nose: Floral notes, with some orchard fruit. Granny Smith apple, pear, and apricot. Toffee, vanilla, malt. Caramel. Unripe banana. Graham cracker. Cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and oak. Palate: Vanilla, honey, caramel, and toffee. Milk chocolate. Sugar cookie. Apple, pear, apricot, and golden raisin. Plum. Custard. Clove, numteg, cinnamon, and oak. Finish:Vanilla, honey, caramel, and toffee. Apple, pear, apricot, and golden raisin. Clove, nutmeg, white pepper, and oak. Moderate length. Pleasant enough whisky. Definitely could’ve used more time in the barrel, but it’s fine for what it is. $60 is too much even considering the gimmick, so I docked a quarter star for VFM. 3/5 even. This may not have done the Starks justice, but drinking it was certainly a better experience than watching the show beyond the at which the writer’s ran out of George’s source material.