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Dalwhinnie Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Dalwhinnie, Inverness-shire
PH19 1AB Scotland
Tel: +44 (0) 1540 672219 / Fax: +44 (0) 1540 672228
Viewer's Comments about Dalwhinnie

When the water you start with comes from the highest mountain source of any malt, you expect something rather fine. And Dalwhinnie™, for whisky writer Roger Voss a "surprisingly soft whisky...from Scotland's highest, most remote distillery", does not disappoint. The source, Lochan an Doire-Uaine, (Gaelic for "lake in the green grove"), lies at 2,000 feet in the Drumochter Hills. From it, all the pure spring water used in distilling Dalwhinnie™ flows over rich local peat through Allt an t'Sluic, the distillery burn. No other distillery may use the water from this source – therefore no other distillery is able to yield Dalwhinnie’s™ uniquely clean, accessible, malty-sweet taste, giving way to a smooth and smoky Highland mouthfeel.

Dalwhinnie distillery, which was originally named Strathspey, was founded in 1897 by John Grant, Alexander Mackenzie and George Sellar. The distillery is situated between the gentle, grassy style of the Lowlands and the austere, firm body of Speyside, which begins some 25 miles to the north. The style is that of the Highlands; a resilient marriage of gentleness and spirit. As befits a malt from such a place, Dalwhinnie™ defies simple description. Too gratifying for an aperitif alone, yet too gentle and delicate to be thought rugged or unapproachable; this combination of delicacy and depth sets it apart. Dalwhinnie is now owned by Diageo and represents the Highlands in their Classic Malts range.

"The Highland peatiness is very restrained at first, balanced by heathery sweetness, but intensifies toward the finish. Clear flavours against a very clean background. A good aperitif." Michael Jackson, whisky writer and expert.

Courtesy of Dalwhinnie Distillery

DALWHINNIE SINGLE MALT SCOTCH 15 YEAR

DALWHINNIE SINGLE MALT SCOTCH 15 YEAR
DALWHINNIE SINGLE MALT SCOTCH 15 YEAR
DALWHINNIE SINGLE MALT SCOTCH 15 YEAR

Strength: 43% ABV

Appearance: Gold.

Nose: A big, crisp, dry and very aromatic nose with hints of heather and peat.

Body: Light to medium.

Palate: Smooth, soft and lasting flavours of heather, honey sweetness and vanilla followed by deeper citrus-fruit flavours and hints of malted bread.

Finish: Long, lingering, surprisingly intense finish that starts sweetly, then gives way to smoke, peat and malt.

 

 

Dalwhinnie Whisky Distillery

"Many late Victorian distilleries were bravely sited; "madly located" Dalwhinnie, one of the highest of all distilleries - at 1073 feet - and now home to the Classic Malts’ delicate and smoky 15 year old Highland malt, was no exception." "Why on earth, you may think," continued the writer of this memorable epithet, "would anybody choose to build a distillery in this desolate, wind-sliced, rain-lashed patch of Highland wilderness?"

A good reason, certainly, was that it was close to the geographic center of the Highlands and so enjoyed easy access to the reliable link to market offered by the new Highland Railway. This helped the distillery to survive its often fragile beginnings, just as surely as Dalwhinnie's setting had earlier helped the village itself to gain an importance beyond its size.

The Gaelic word from which the name Dalwhinnie comes is Dail-coinneeamh, also spelt Dail-Chuinnidh, which translates as "plain of meetings." Here on these high windswept pastures between the Grampian and Monadhliath mountain ranges, 18th Century cattle drovers would pause on their journey south, over the Drumochter pass to the great trysts or cattle markets of Crieff and Falkirk. Where it can, Dalwhinnie retains the old ways. Traditional wood is still used for its washbacks, for example. Just two copper stills, as there have always been, send the alcohol into the lye pipes on its way to the stillman. He skillfully separates the "foreshots" and "feints" before allowing the purest middle part of the distillation to reach the oak casks in which Dalwhinnie™ will rest on its way to maturity.

Increasingly rare wooden worm-tubs, a landmark outside the distillery as distinctive as its pagoda roofs, help this remain a spirit of real character. Old hands will say that the slow deliberate condensation, which takes place in a copper worm, can't be matched in more modern condensing vessels. Perhaps it gives Dalwhinnie™ that little extra body?

As well as being a fine distillery, Dalwhinnie also has the distinction of being an official weather station, with one of the lowest recorded average temperatures in Great Britain!

THE DISTILLERY TODAY

An opportunity to sample the 'Gentle Spirit' of the glen at one of the highest distilleries in the land, Dalwhinnie is a wonderfully full-bodied, smooth and warming malt whisky.

Site Operations Manager
Donald Stirling

Opening Times

January to Thursday 9th April:
Mon - Fri: 11am - 2pm
Tours at 11.15am, 12.15pm & 1.15pm

The Visitor Centre will unfortunately be closed on Wednesday 18th March We apologies in advance for any inconvenience this may cause.

Friday 10th April to May:
Mon - Fri: 9.30am - 5pm

Open Saturday 11th April from 9.30am - 5pm only.

1st June to 30th September:
Mon - Sat: 9.30am - 5pm

July & August:
Also Sun: 12.30pm - 4pm

October:
Mon - Sat: 11am - 4pm

November & December:
Mon - Fri: 11am - 2pm
Tours at 11.15am, 12.15pm & 1.15pm

Festive Opening:
The Visitor Centre will be closed from 2pm on Thursday 17th December until Tuesday 5th January 2010 at 11.00am.

Last Tour:
1 hour before above closing times.

Admission Charges Apply:
Adults: £5.00 per person (includes a £3.00 discount voucher redeemable on any 70cl bottle of malt whisky purchased in the Visitor Centre Shop)

Children: £2.50 (8 yrs to 17 yrs inclusive)

Contact Us
Dalwhinnie Distillery
Dalwhinnie, Inverness-shire
PH19 1AB Scotland
Telephone: +44 (0) 1540 672219
Fax: +44 (0) 1540 672228
E-mail: Dalwhinnie Distillery

Courtesy of Dalwhinnie Distillery


Comments on this Whisky                                                      page 1 of 1
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David Campbell
Posted 40 days ago
I tried many different scotches and Dalwhinnie is my absolute favorite.
David Campbell
Posted 40 days ago
I tried many different scotches and Dalwhinnie is my absolute favorite.
FDNY
Posted 46 days ago
the best scotch on the planet.......(.Scotland....in a glass!!)
Per S Hansen
Posted 135 days ago
The one item to bring with you to bribe St. Peter...
Adam
Posted 213 days ago
Love this one, i enjoy the Dalwhinnie after a meal. It is like a dessert scotch! Compared to other smokier and peaty drams, this one is something you can let take over after a belly busting meal. You dont want to get punched in the gut twice! It is sweet honey like and full of berry notes! A good cigar?! darn right! I prefer slightly sweeter Java cigars with this one.
http://someofthefinerthings.blogspot .com
Roger Boswell
Posted 263 days ago
My favorite scotch!!! A tumbler of Dalwhinnie and a good cigar...it just doesn't get any better than this!!!
Jason Fahringer
Posted 282 days ago
One of the most complex single-malts I've ever tasted. The finish is truly amazing.
Richard Rios
Posted 689 days ago
One of the finer 15 year old single-malts around. Lovely texture, some light smokiness, very smooth with a fantastic finish. Great with cigars. My personal way of enjoying this delighful scotch.
Joanne Bergstrom
Posted 697 days ago
The Dalwhinnie 15 year chilled was great with dessert, although it could serve as a dessert itself! Smooth, lightly sweet and unique.