New Release: Dalwhinnie 1980 33 Year Old The Scotch Malt Whisky Society '41.63'

It had a natural maturation with unadorned charm. Dalwhinnie DAILUAINE 1980 33yo THE SCOTCH MALT WHISKY SOCIETY '41.63' 54.1% One of 174 bottles, Refill Bourbon Hogshead The aroma is lavish yet has a wonderful rustic grain character, with cinnamon, mild peach and pear notes, natural maturation, sliced almonds. On the palate, it starts with a smooth mouthfeel and gradually expands into a rich, slightly chewy grain flavor with honey-like sweetness. The oak's subtle tannins provide a finishing touch, leaving a long finish. [Good/Very Good] This is a new bottling from SMWS, number 41: Dalwhinnie 1980, aged for 33 years. I remember that the Dalwhinnie 1980 I drank previously from Adelphi was surprisingly fruity for its vintage and very delicious. This same vintage Dalwhinnie always catches my attention. Previously, the Makiroppu Choice bottling was quite the opposite, with a plain, upfront grain character. This one feels like a middle ground between those extremes. The rustic grain character with some chewy umami is impressive, yet there's also a subtle floral fruitiness reminiscent of peaches hidden beneath. It was impressive how the alcohol content didn't feel overwhelming, with a refined nuance that made it seem like an older release. This kind of subtlety has become more common in recent SMWS new releases. This bottle felt natural without any forced elements, and its natural maturation gave it a somewhat Diageo official bottling-like impression. Overall, this was a satisfying Dalwhinnie.