Dalwhinnie Distillers Edition (2023 Release)

We're all familiar with Diageo's Distiller's Editions, a yearly release since the late 80s. However, I've generally favored traditional malts like Talisker, Lagavulin, or Oban. To be completely honest, I've never encountered this Dalwhinnie Distiller's Edition, especially this 2022 expression. I've only had a couple of sips from this distillery before, and both were quite pleasant. This one is bottled at 43% ABV. On the nose, it begins with winter berries, red berries, and school glue. Nothing else. On the palate, I detect red fruit notes; wild berries and hay. The aftertaste is slightly better. A touch of smoke; a little salty and reminiscent of the seaside. Overall, this is a below-average dram, quite forgettable. Among all the "Distillery Editions" I've sampled, this might be the dullest. It has the profile I recall from the classic Dalwhinnie expressions, but it's too watery and light. My score is 73 out of 100.