Whisky Review – Dalwhinnie Winter’s Gold

With a name like Winter’s Gold it would have been a crime not to get a sample of this in our whisky advent calendar! Dalwhinnie, is not a distillery that we are over familiar with, so we were intrigued by the special innovative nature of this bottling.

Dalwhinnie Distillery …

Originally called Strathspey, Dalwhinnie Distillery is the highest distillery in Scotland with a visitors centre. Currently owned by Diageo, it was built in 1897 in the Highland village of Dalwhinnie. With great access to the Lochan-Doire-Uaine and surrounding peat bogs, making it an ideal location for a distillery.

It’s history is expansive, including many closures – one of which was caused by a fire! In 1989 the Dalwhinnie 15 y/o expression was named one fo the Six Classic Malts of Scotland.

Tasting Notes …

Dalwhinnie Winter’s Gold – 43% ABV

A recent addition to the Dalwhinnie line-up, this expression was first released in 2015. It pays homage to the chilly climate of Scotland; using only spirit that has been distilled between October and March. Interestingly, it is suggested that you should serve this dram straight out of the freezer!

Nose: oak spice, orchard fruits, sticky toffee pudding, maple syrup, honey and fruitcake
Palate: lots of apple, apple pie with cinnamon dusting, honey and yoghurt
Finish: short, creamy, hint of peppery spice

It is not often that we give less than three stars for a review, but unfortunately this dram was just not for us. We haven’t got all that much to say, as it was inoffensive, but just not to our tastes!

It is times like this where we really love the fact that you can buy sample drams from places like Master of Malt (other whisky shops are available!). The try-before-you-buy aspect means not only do you get access to a whole range of whisky, you’re also not left with full-sized bottles on your shelf. We’re glad that we tried this dram, as it happens we tried the Dalwhinnie 15 y/o alongside it and found that far more to our tastes.

Do you often try-before-you-buy with whisky? Who is your favourite go-to retailer for all things whisky? Let us know in the comments below!