It seems there’s a new Dalwhinnie 25 Year Old coming up as part of the Diageo Special Releases 2015, but for now we’re trying the old version distilled in 1987 and part of the Special Releases in 2012.
Dalwhinnie 25yo was matured in rejuvenated American oak hogsheads. That means they scraped the inside of tired casks that had been used for whisky maturation several times. This gives you a new surface of active wood, which is then charred and ready to be used again.
Dalwhinnie 25 yo 1987
(52,1%, OB 2012, 5358 btl.)
Dalwhinnie 25 yo 1987Nose: opens fairly soft but at the same time quite aromatic. The rejuvenated oak is clearly noticeable, with lots of roasted chestnuts, forest aromas (ferns, moss), liquorice and cloves. Slightly burnt herbs. Heather honey. Crème brûlée. Cinnamon. Quite a lot of hay. Soft fruity notes in the background (peach).
Mouth: nicely waxy now, quite some heather honey again, liquorice and mint. A short hint of fruits (grapefruit, marmalade). After that it turns towards wood resin, leather, herbal liqueurs and plenty of spices like cardamom, clove and ginger.
Finish: long, rather grassy but also nicely minty.
This Dalwhinnie shows a lot of Highlands character, even hints of Highland Park. And plenty of oaky notes, of course. Still available in many places for around € 220. Despite the limited interest, I’m sure the new release will be at least twice that price, wanna bet?
Score: 87/100