Slainte-Mhath
Dalwhinnie 15 Year
Single Malt — Highlands, Scotland
Reviewed
October 12, 2019 (edited May 11, 2020)
We do not want to become a malt snob, do we? Never lose appreciation of a simple but honest classic! Known as 'the honey malt', Dalwhinnie 15 is a great choice for beginners to set out on their whisky journey. Notes of heather, green pears and barley sugar complement the honeyed aroma. After a sweet, rich and full-bodied arrival, spices build up quickly with a mildly dry and bitter edge, but well-measured. The aftertaste is gentle, citric and wood-driven with hints of cinnamon and apple juice. A characterful Highlander which should not be overlooked!
RATING: 3.5/5.0 stars ≙ 84 pts → ABOVE AVERAGE
35.0
EUR
per
Bottle
Create Account
or
Sign in
to comment on this review
I enjoyed the purity of this malt.......granted im not quite the seasoned whisky drinker as others here are
@Slainte-Mhath Three very good beginner recommendations - approachable but with something to say. Good to hear that Dalwhinnie 15 has picked up a little - it’s probably time I retasted it myself.
This was the whisky that launched my boat. :)
@jonwilkinson7309 You are absolutely right. Your palate changes over time, your experience grows, and batches do vary. It is all fluent. Dalwhinnie 15 was among the first 10 malts I've reviewed, and back in the days it was a 4-star rating for me. About 500 whiskies later, I still think that it is a decent dram, but my perspective has changed (and so has my score). However, it's still among my recommendations when being asked what I would give to a malt beginner - the other options being GlenDronach 12 and Bunnahabhain 12.
I like the multiple reviews! It's interesting how perceptions can change over time. I've only had this one once. I liked it, but it came across as younger than some 12 year highlands. But not necessarily in a bad way. I actually think it would be a good Scotch for fans of Tennessee whiskey (and some bourbons ). But it's a dram that I should revisit!
Re-reviewed in 10/2019: After having 're-visited' Dalwhinnie 15 a couple of times in the past, I decided that my review needed an overhaul. There has been some batch variation, but I must say that this recently bought 20 cl bottle was very decent. Not quite a 4-star malt, but certainly above average!
Re-reviewed in 04/2019: A lot of water has gone under the bridge since I've last tasted this Diageo malt. I am still enjoying it, but approaching this dram with a more refined palate, I have to knock off another point. The recent batch simply does not meet my criteria for a 4-star-rating anymore. With that being said, I'm not sure whether it is me or the whisky that has changed over the years. Maybe it's both? Dalwhinnie 15 is still a pretty good value, and I'll certainly not say 'no, thanks' when offered a glass!
Re-reviewed in 06/2017: I had to knock 1 point off. It's still a lovely malt deserving a 4-star rating, but not quite on par with Ardbeg, Caol Ila and Talisker. Highly recommended as beginners whisky! There seems to be some peat influence in recent batches, which I liked. Excellent value!