Dalwhinnie 1980 Distillers Edition / 1st Release

The Dalwhinnie Distillers Edition from 2000 was a disappointment, but let me try again with a bottling from 20 years ago. This is the Distillers Edition from 1980, bottled in 1997.

Again the nose offers loads of dark fruit (think raisin, plums, figs and dades), but also lovely hints of Turkish Delight, candied orange peel and toffee. It also has a mild herbal side as if from freshly cut grass and sawn planks. This is nicely balanced and very good.

It is wonderfully creamy on the palate. You can almost chew it. Wow! Yes, very good. Feisty arrival with a big spiciness from pepper and cloves and immediately dark and sweet on caramel, plum liqueur, orange marmalade and wine gums. A fresh note of lemon appears, sprinkled with juicy honey. And then there is that trace of woodsmoke. This is lovely.

The finish is medium long, honeysweet and a touch old school if you know what I mean.

Well, this is something totally different from its more recent brother. Balanced, lovely sherry notes and most of all a great body. Impressive.

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