1989 Dalwhinnie 30 Year Old (Special Release 2020) Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Tasting note: [15ml sample] Highland distillery Dalwhinnie is the entry point for so many whisky drinkers, but examples with this sort of age are seldom seen. A sublime integration of honey, orange pith, shortbread and light beeswax that repeats on the palate. Hints at orange blossom, orange spice cake, toasted cereals. Floral soft finish, followed by a late malty surge. Elegant, crisp, honeyed and long. Very classy. The lady of the 2020 collection. 51.9% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered. 6978 bottles.

Other reviews... Pipe tobacco, white pepper, and a mildly herbal note on the nose, with emerging vanilla, green berries, and ginger. Full-bodied in the mouth, supple and creamy, with orchard fruits and more white pepper. Drying in the very long finish, with chile, light tannins, and dark chocolate. 91 points - whiskyadvocate.com

There’s a lovely hare on the label but I can’t see any tortoise… Colour: white wine/straw. Very pale given its age, this should be distillate-driven. Nose: oh what a difference fifteen years make, this is so lively, complex, elegant, refreshing and full of fruits. Rhubarb and citrons, I would say, perhaps greengages, a tiny touch of nail polish that goes extremely well with this style, a little chalk, a drop of ink, a spoonful of muesli… I find this perfect, really. There already was a superb 1989 in the SRs back in 2015, this one may go one step forward. With water: oh this subtle smoke (Mum’s cigarette), panettone in the oven, praline, almond croissants, this very small touch of engine oil... Brilliant nose, so subtle… Mouth (neat): fantastic, a little mentholy and branche-y or rooty, with a perfect tension, a chalkiness, some citrons and grapefruits, and a wee bit of green pear. Totally perfect when unreduced, not even sure it would need water. But I’m supposed to be some kind of whisky blogger, so… With water: menthol up, almonds, marzipan, bits of plasticine, citrons again, lemon zests… The tension builds up, this is perfect. Finish: medium, even a tad short, but complex and elegant, on, say lemon-flavoured amaretti. Comments: very very smart and very very good, without any unnecessary cask ‘stuff’ in the way. Have to check the price… 91 points - whiskyfun.com