Dalwhinnie Winter's Frost (Game of Thrones-House Stark)

Nose: Predominantly fruity with notes of white grape, peach, other stone fruits, pear, and a little red and green apple. Also hints of vanilla and bread pudding. A pleasant spicy kick is present. A subtle tanginess lingers, more of a sensation than a distinct flavor. Swirling brings out red wine notes, evoking a good Irish single pot still. This profile is fleeting, unlike some others, but impressive for its class while it lasts. Ends with a pleasant mineral water quality, a dry, earthy, metallic sensation. P: Sweet, ripe red fruits, peaches, with slightly bitter, perhaps unripe, pears. Vanilla and bread notes emerge, accompanied by a mild tannic bitterness and a substantial hit of hot baking spices. The spices persist into the finish before fading. Following the spice, the finish is earthy, metallic, and bitter, with a final hint of alcohol warmth. A respectable dram for the price, especially considering its cross-promotional nature. It presents a Highland character with an interesting minerality, possibly referencing a particular family's down-to-earth nature. This experience makes me more inclined to try other expressions from the same distillery. Overall, a satisfying and tasty pour for the cost.

It's been at least 5, possibly 6 years since my last assessment of the Lagavulin 9, which I believe was the Lannister edition. That was decent, but I did compare it to the standard Lagavulin 8. I hadn't watched the series then, but I viewed it all a year ago. This is simply an NAS Dalwhinnie, so my expectations aren't high. Selecting a Highland malt is an appropriate choice to represent the Starks, however. Nose: Flowers, with some orchard fruit. Granny Smith apple, pear, and apricot. Toffee, vanilla, malt. Caramel. Green banana. Graham cracker. Cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and oak. Palate: Vanilla, honey, caramel, and toffee. Milk chocolate. Sugar cookie. Apple, pear, apricot, and golden raisin. Plum. Custard. Clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, and oak. Finish: Vanilla, honey, caramel, and toffee. Apple, pear, apricot, and golden raisin. Clove, nutmeg, white pepper, and oak. Moderate duration. An agreeable enough spirit. It definitely could have used more time in the cask, but it's acceptable for what it is. $60 is excessive even with the gimmick, so I reduced the score by a quarter star for value. 3/5 overall. This might not have honored the Starks, but drinking it was certainly a superior experience to watching the show after the point where the writers ran out of the author's source material.

Acquired this at a great price from a closing establishment and have been cherishing every drop. This bottling clearly represents its distillery – a spirit meant for colder weather – yet it possesses a character that is tannic, tart, and tropical. The expected aromas are present on the nose: dried heather, lemon zest, and the scent of a recently extinguished beeswax candle. However, I also detect dried mango and pronounced tamarind notes, which are highly unexpected and remarkable. On the palate, the body is defined by notes of black tea and honey from the summer harvest. Additional tropical flavors emerge at the top, such as banana tarte tatin and dried coconut. There's also a medicinal tulsi note, suggesting bourbon influence. The mouthfeel is tannic, expansive, and somewhat bitter, balanced by the brightness of the fruity elements. The finish offers a burst of salted mango and dark honey, accompanied by a deep, sweet barley character. It's simultaneously warming, mouthwatering, and piquant. This single malt achieves a remarkable duality, existing in both a daring dreamscape and the tangible world, and does so with such skill that the line between them blurs.

Here I commence my reviews of some of the Game of Thrones Spirits that recently became available. House Stark, from Dalwhinnie (actually named "Dalwhinnie Winter's Frost"), is a NAS spirit that narrates the story of the Starks, one of the most significant families in HBO's "GOT" series. In reality, the spirit is quite pleasant, nothing extraordinary. The packaging the bottle comes in is far more attractive than the bottle itself. On the nose, very fruity. Red Apples, Gerber Porridge, prunes and apricots. On the palate, it's a bit straightforward, but easy to drink. Slightly watery, tastes like cider with hints of ginger. The aftertaste has a little smokiness and some toasted oak notes emerge. Overall, this is the most average spirit imaginable. It tastes good and functions well. Not expensive and collectible. 82 out of 100 seems appropriate for it.

Nose: Sweetness of honey and fruit, slightly smoky, and a little malt. Palate: Honey comes through followed by a little smoke and spice. Smooth and fruity as well. Hint of vanilla/maple syrup. Finish: Very smooth. Vanilla stronger on the finish. Malty as well. Did not expect this much sweetness but I am very happy about it! Overall Thoughts: This is my second bottle from the Game Of Thrones series I’ve tried, and they’ve both been good. Very enjoyable and mellow. The smokiness and the malt are excellent. I’m very pleased that my loyalty to The North has proven to be the right choice.

A present from a close friend to celebrate my second son's arrival. The aroma is rich butterscotch and raisins with a whisper of smoke. The scent of malted grain emerges at the end of the nose and transitions to the taste. The remainder of the palate is a dry, spicy peat that I find quite pleasing. It's not universally appealing, however. The conclusion is brief and features spicy peat, yet it's enjoyable. This is my first Dalwhinnie, but I plan to explore more. On a second tasting, the aroma evokes s'mores by a campfire, with the toasted marshmallow and warm graham cracker notes continuing onto the palate.