Dalwhinnie Winter's Gold, 43% ABV

Color:  light amber, almost like a pale liquid toffee.
Nose:  A faint malty aroma.
 
On the palate, light peat and malt are the first flavors appreciated, followed by a very light sweetness to remind one that this is an expression of Dalwhinnie. I appreciated a soft oakiness and spice which I assume is from ex-bourbon casking. The flavors linger gently on the tongue for only a short time.
 
The Winter’s Gold is one of several inexpensive no age statement winter-warmer drams I’ve tasted. Another example is Glenmorangie’s “A Midwinter Night’s Dram.” These whiskies are pleasant enough, but simple and not anything to get overly excited about. The Winter’s Gold was my first dram in Scotland in 2016, at Maxie’s in Edinburgh. I had to choose a whisky I thought would go well with my first taste of haggis, neeps and tatties. It worked. Talk about a warm, full belly! The distillery suggests putting the whisky into the freezer and pouring it cold to appreciate the changes in the whisky as it warms. I did try that with the bottle I brought home from that trip and it was a fun little tasting experiment, though I believe it did lessen the lifespan of the bottle.