Dalswinton Estate is a 5000 acre private estate owned by the Landale family, north of Dumfries, where Claxton’s Spirits is operating from. Over the years they’ve built a new bonded warehouse there, with a showroom and bottling operations. To celebrate this place, they’ve introduced a series of premium whiskies named the Dalswinton Series.
The series includes very old whisky, with only 100 bottles drawn from each cask. Each bottle comes with an etched drawing of a Dalswinton scene. Check the Claxton’s website for more backgound information on this series. Today we’re looking at three expressions from the second installment. Two more releases (Clynelish and Bowmore) will be reviewed soon.
Highland Park 33 yo 1988 (43,2%, Claxton’s ‘Dalswinton series’ 2024, Oloroso sherry cask)
Nose: a very ‘evolved’ profile already. There are nice heathery notes, mixed with old oak, stewed yellow apples, hints of exotic teas and waxy cedar wood. Also pollen and nectars, with hardwood resins and dried herbs in the background. Then delicate minty notes, ferns and hints of sweet pipe tobacco. The lightest whiff of herbal peat underneath.
Mouth: soft peat smoke is still present, with some lightly tropical fruits. Melons, tangerines, pink grapefruits, even a touch of lychee. Heather returns, along with honeyed notes, more of these cooked apples and hints of nougat sweetness. Still a nice waxy feeling, a bit of camphor and herbal tea, while oak spice grows.
Finish: medium length, with earthy echoes, hints of Fino sherry, apples, lemon oil and herbal tea.
A great old-school Highland Park. Perhaps a little delicate on the palate, so no need to add water, but certainly delicious. It reminded me of the Highland Park 1988 from Signatory Vintage.
Springbank 30 yo 1993 (44,5%, Claxton’s ‘Dalswinton series’ 2024, hogshead)
Nose: wonderful. Lovely metallic notes, with old fabrics, plenty of mineral oils, olive oil and hints of warehouse floors. Whiffs of unlit cigarettes, waxed papers and sea spray. Then lime sprinkled with icing sugar, along with paraffin, subtle beehive notes and raw wool. Very distinctive aromas (well, not for Springbank) yet so refined and coherent.
Mouth: thick and fatty, with more sweetness than expected. A lot of honey and powder sugar, drizzled over apple slices and peaches. Then it moves towards sweet waxy notes, more paraffin and leather. Some grapefruit appears, with very light hints of herbal bitters. Seaweed, minty notes and earthy notes. The lightest hint of smoke in the distance.
Finish: rather long, on mineral notes, lemon rind and hints of chalk. Also mild oak with subtle vanilla.
Still one of the most idiosyncratic whiskies out there, and this is a particularly enjoyable example. I really like the added waxy sweetness which brings all the mineral, coastal and industrial elements together. Score: 92/100
Bunnahabhain 33 yo 1990 (48,6%, Claxton’s ‘Dalswinton series’ 2024, Oloroso sherry cask)
Nose: rather elegant sherry, on cake aromas, baked apples, with hints of nutmeg, cinnamon powder and sweet marzipan. Also a little sunflower oil and coffee with whipped cream. Then some dusty muesli and tobacco leaves. Some oaky notes as well.
Mouth: quite spicy and robust now, with black pepper, ginger and nutmeg. Underneath there is a subtle sweetness (dark fruits) but also bigger hints of wood char and light smoke. Then some cedar wood, a bitter herbal edge and plenty of leathery notes towards the end.
Finish: medium long and leafy, with tobacco notes, crushed peppercorns and warming oak.
A really good malt again, though probably not as old-school as the two others. The wood spice comes out more, making this more robust and wintery. I’m sure this makes more sense if you’re a cigar lover. Score: 88/100