Dalwhinnie Winter’s Gold
One of my favourite distillery adventures was to Dalwhinnie, many years ago. This small town in the heart of the Highlands, is the highest distillery in Scotland, where it experiences some of Scotlands most harsh weather. My own experience was walking four miles in driving rain to get to the distillery, only to find we were too late for the tour. We did, however, manage the tasting with chocolates which was incredible and a habit I have stuck to since!
Bottle
The shape of Dalwhinnie’s bottle adheres to my favourite style - short, stout and solid. However, whilst the shape of the bottle is robust, the rest of the presentation is slightly lacking. The stopper is unashamedly plastic, cheapening the uncorking ceremony that is usually such a joy with a new bottle.
Colour
Quite a rich colour to this whisky, maybe around the Sherry or Muscat region of the colour chart. This colour is, however, artificially enhanced with caramel colouring.
Nose - The aroma of this whisky is quite pleasant with sweet, fruity and vanilla notes. The sweetness comes through as honey or golden syrup, melting into scents of orchard fruits, mainly apple and pear. the scent is relatively subtle but enticing.
Palate - On the palate, the honeyed sweetness mingles with a touch of malt, creating a delicate dance of flavours. Subtle hints of spice and a fleeting kiss of peat contribute to the complexity. There is a slightly tart or bitter taste to the dram which detracts from the mellowness of the rest of the flavours.
Finish - A medium to long finish that culminates in the sweetness again as the tart taste withdraws.
Overall
This whisky is recommended by the Distillery to be enjoyed straight from the freezer. I have chosen to drink the whisky at room temperature, as I would any other whisky and it doesn't really hit the mark for me. The cost of a bottle of Winter’s Gold has gone up a lot in the last few years (disproportionate with comparable whiskies) and I wouldn’t recommend this other than for the novelty of a ‘freezer whisky’. For nearly £50 I would much rather turn to a different expression.
Available from Master of Malt for around £48, or check price and availability at Amazon