Dalwhinnie 1973 / 29 Year Old

Nose: Appetisingly fruity. Chocolate and milky coffee, with juicy fruit behind. Orange juice on breakfast pancakes? Later, pleasant scents of wax and varnish. Adding water introduces a trace of baked apple.

Body: Smooth.Textured.

Palate: Quite hot, some wood notes, after a medium-sweet start that bursts with fruitiness. Apples, bananas? Needs water to bring out the voluptuous, oily mouthfeel, top-palate sweetness then pleasant acidity. Develops into spiced apples, then faded oil of cloves.

Finish: Lively, fresh and clean. Warming, medium-length. Spicy aftertaste.

Colour: deep gold. Nose: bold and rich, with tons of beehive aromas. Wax, hay jam, quince jam, mirabelle jam. Just beautiful. Hints of oak and vanilla, and whiffs of peat.

Mouth: lots of crystallised fruits, apple compote, candy sugar and honey. Really beautiful. Long and nicely balanced finish, on dried fruits and vanilla ice cream. I liked it very much. 90 points.