Dalwhinnie Winter's Gold

Quite intriguing. It's designed to be kept in the freezer and savored when ice cold. So, naturally, I first tasted it at room temperature, as is. It's undeniably a Dalwhinnie. The palate remains gentle and balanced with crisp apple, fruit, and honey, along with a hint of peat smoke – characteristics the distillery is known for. It's very similar to the classic 15, but with a few clear differences. The changes are noticeable in two areas. The nose seems to have a lighter fruitiness, perhaps comparable to apricot. I don't think it's significantly worse than the 15 in this aspect. However, the palate is less balanced. A touch of spice and bitterness emerges, which slightly detracts from the honeyed, crisp-apple finish found in the 15. In my view, this marginally reduces the palate/finish, but the overall quality is still well above average. Now, for the intended experience, after a lengthy period in the freezer.... With the added chill, the taste hasn't changed much (which isn't surprising, as taste doesn't really work that way), though I did detect a slight decrease in bitterness on the finish, as the cold overwhelms it. Beyond that, I can certainly say the flavor profile works well at the low temperature. The spirit is enjoyable either way, chilled or at room temperature. But I must admit (and I might just be a gullible victim of the marketing) I think I do prefer it chilled, as the distillers suggest. Overall, it might be slightly less impressive than the 15, but I consider this a really cool offering from a fantastic distillery. Definitely worth trying.

Creating a cold-weather whiskey in Scotland is a novel idea, given its infrequent warmth. The distillery, situated at a high altitude in a beautiful, remote area, experiences typical Scottish weather. They advise serving it straight from the freezer. In my opinion, this amplifies the spicy notes while diminishing some of the subtler flavors. The initial taste is a diverse blend of spices with a notable alcohol presence. It has a sweet honey undertone and a background hint of light smoke, but the spice, such as pepper, chili, and cinnamon, is the most prominent. The flavor then develops to reveal fruit notes of apple and orange, though these are secondary to the spice. It concludes with a pleasant, medium-long spicy, peppery finish. For its affordable price, this is a truly enjoyable dram. I've consumed several bottles already and will continue to keep it stocked.

I'm quite embarrassed that after 347 whiskies, I've only just tried a Dalwhinnie, one of "the 6 classic malts of Scotland". And I'm not even sampling the most iconic and classic version, the 15yo. This one, called "winter's gold", has the distinction of being distilled only in winter, which is notable. It's 43% ABV with a burnished gold color. Indeed, it's wintery and golden. The nose is quite good, with notes of wedding cake, strawberry marmalade, burnt cake edges, and heather. It actually set me up for a great palate experience that just didn't materialize. On the palate, I found prunes, earthy peat, salt, and coastal flavors. It reminds me too much of an Oban. The aftertaste is very, very, very short, which is why it lost most of its points. Overall, this is a pleasant dram, nothing extraordinary, and you won't miss out if you never taste it. Scored 71 out of 100.

This long-time companion has been overlooked in favor of newer American whiskey stars as I explored bourbon. Tonight, I bid farewell to this sweet treasure. Its gentle flavor is akin to sipping honey with a subtle hint of ocean salt spray. It's like tasting the color gold. My palate has evolved beyond this mild spirit, but I'll remember it fondly as I finish the last of the bottle.

I became completely enamored with this distillery during a visit to their Scotland location two years ago and didn't want to depart. Since purchasing several bottles, I've remained a loyal customer, seeking out this brand whenever I can find it in NYC. It's ideal for converting someone unfamiliar with whisky into a single malt enthusiast. I highly recommend this and the 15-year-old expression, and suggest a trip to the distillery in the Highlands.

The nose is full of honey and vanilla, with a suggestion of a ripe, sweet apple. A subtle influence of wood is also present. On the palate, it's silky smooth, initially spicy. After the spice mellows, sweetness emerges, dominated by vanilla. The finish offers a sugary sweetness, followed by a brief two-second burst of spice before fading. Wood notes then gently appear as a very faint trace. An excellent choice for dessert!