Review #54 - Dalwhinnie Distiller's Edition 2020 Release
Distiller's Edition Mini-Series: Part 3 of 3
Let's wrap this mini-series up - it's time for our third and final Diageo distiller's edition whisky, this time from Dalwhinnie. We're looking at the 2020 bottling, which was distilled in 2005 and underwent double maturation, likely employing ex-bourbon and ex-Oloroso sherry casks (though those details aren't explicitly stated).
One point of interest here - Dalwhinnie is one of the highest distilleries in Scotland (supposedly the highest with a visitor center) at an elevation above sea level of 352 meters (1,154 feet). While some of their cask maturation takes place on site at this height, much of the whisky is moved elsewhere in Scotland for maturation (probably the central belt), so it's hard to say how much influence this change in conditions might have on the final product.
Dalwhinnie Distiller's Edition 2020 Release
Scotland/Highlands - Single Malt
Current Locally Available Price: USD 110 (2023)
Age Statement: 14-15 Years
Strength: 43% ABV
Cask Makeup: Double maturation, finished in sherry casks
Details: Distilled in 2005, bottled in 2020
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 2 times over 7 months; bottles at 50% and 40% fill levels at times of review. Tasted in a Glencairn glass each time, rested 10-15 minutes
Nose: Generally pretty easy and soft, and quite the fruit bomb: sweet citrus, grapefruit, cherry, and lots of berry fruit in general, like raspberry and blackberry, even blueberry. Past the fruit, there is some vanilla and a bit of earthiness, along with a bit of ethanol, granulated sugar, and brown sugar.
Palate: Comes in stages: we start with lots of citrus and some sharper pepper up front, but then it evens out with some solid oak influence and wood sugars, along with just a hint of smokiness. Then the fruit turns red once more, but it's mild, and overall, this is a little hotter than expected for the strength; at least we get a medium thickness mouthfeel. Later, there is some barrel spice and nutmeg, along with lightly bitter tannins.
Finish: Bold finish, full of ex-bourbon notes like oak astringency and a hint of wood smoke. There are fruits like orange and berries, along with sherry; the whole experience is a medium length.
Final Note: Not bad, but not quite as good as the other distiller's editions we looked at, despite the additional aging. Dalwhinnie is known for a more mellow style, which generally fits our experience, though we did find some astringency and heat in both of the tastings we did of this malt. Still, a decent sipper, though at the going price, we're not sure we would be picking up a bottle of this.
Our Average Rating: 7.4 / 10
In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.
Value Rating: 6.07
