Dalwhinnie The Distillers Edition 15 Years Old 1990

A 15 year old Dalwhinnie, a distillery bottling, from 1990, cask D. SM. 312, at 43%. Dalwhinnie is the soft, heather honey Highland malt distilled at Scotland's highest and coldest distillery. It runs pear shaped copper stills whose vapour is cooled in traditional worm tubs.

The spirit was run through the pear shaped stills on soft snowmelt water, for a soft, honeyed make with a waxy depth. A sherry butt held it, the wood lending raisin and walnut over the honey. Through oxidative maturity esters concentrate, apple and pear turning honeyed over the soft, waxy body. A gentle maturation suits the soft make, the heather honey growing richer with time. The cold, high air of the central hills gives a slow, even maturation. Cold warehouses on the high ground slow the spirit's loss to the angels' share. Its water is soft snowmelt drawn from the surrounding hills.

Reduced to 43%, it is mellow. Honey, pear and a waxy weight, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. Beneath it run apple, pear and a soft honey. The finish is rounded, honeyed and gently warming. This is a light, honeyed Highland malt with a waxy heart.