dancing dalwhinnie

have found many like-minded friends in the pursuit of a good if not great dram over the years. and friends or relatives of friends who flit in and out of london occasionally bring back a good bottle for us to imbibe and wax lyrical.
and so, in a recent moonless night, came this bottle from the highest distillery in all of scotland. the dalwhinnie 15 years old.
it wasn't that moonless actually but the thin crescent of the moon was hidden by dark clouds as we gathered for a feast of good food complemented by great drinks, and wonderful company.
as conversation turned to politics and the chill wind of the global economy left us shivering, our host brought out the dalwhinnie, the highland single malt that is made between the lowlands and the speyside which is part of the diageo group.
the skirl of bagpipes filled my head the first time i sipped a dram of dalwhinnie. but the din gave way to music as the pale gold liquid washed through with a crisp aromatic nose that hinted of peat and some heather.
the 43 percent by alcohol volume single malt tasted soft with notes of vanilla and honey that melded with the acidic tanginess of citrus. But that was just the set-up for a long lingering robust finish that began sweet and then turned smoky and peaty. left me just barely standing but hankering for more of the warm dram and a dance with a damsel.
and so the one litre-bottle slowly finished and the music echoed in my head.