The Dalwhinnie Distiller’s Edition is a variation on their well-known 15 year old single malt. It forms part of the Distiller’s Edition range under the Diageo company, a variation of their excellent Classic Malts range with different finishes. The Dalwhinnie Distillers Edition comes finished in Oloroso sherry casks.
One of the interesting things about the Distillers Edition is it seems to be a touch more peaty than the standard 15 year old. Both in nosing and in taste. The vanilla flavors present in the 15 year old seem to have been taken over by the sherry, otherwise the 15 year old and Dalwhinnie Distillers Edition are very similar whiskies.
Nosing reveals oak, malt, honey, light peat and light sherry. Definitely one of the lighter, sweeter noses I’ve experienced.
On tasting, there is malt which fades in to sherry. The sherry makes the honey experienced in the 15 year old more like a thick treacle flavor. The peat provides a nice background for the sweetness.
The finish is spice, smoke and oak and surprisingly long for a fairly unassuming sweet whisky.
The distiller’s edition doesn’t do enough to justify the extra cost over the 15 year old, in my opinion. Whilst pleasant, there are plenty of other good sherry and peat whiskies available for less.
Dalwhinnie Distillers Edition Information
- Type: 15 year old single malt Scotch whisky finished in Oloroso sherry casks
- Region: Highland
- ABV: 43%
- Price guide: 55 British pounds, 90 US dollars.