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Haig Dimple 15 Year Old

12 Minis! - Part V

0 685

@talexanderReview by @talexander

28th Sep 2014

0

  • Nose
    20
  • Taste
    22
  • Finish
    22
  • Balance
    21
  • Overall
    85

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Dimple (or "Pinch" as it is known in the US) is a very old, highly revered brand of blended scotch. Launched in 1890 with its distinctive packaging (which gives it its name, of course) by G.O. Haig, it really goes back to 1627 when his ancestor John Haig began distilling. The brand is currently owned by Diageo. Besides the "pinched" bottle shape, it also has a thin wire net around it, to absorb changes in temperature so the cork doesn't pop out. I had the great rare pleasure of tasting a Dimple bottling (NAS) from the 1950s at a Bonham's auction in NY - it was malty, savoury, leathery old-school scotch and it was amazing.

I don't know when this mini was bottled but it looks old, certainly older than the current bottling. Interestingly, the lettering on the back is in Hebrew (but the front is in English).

The colour is a deep gold. The nose is a little shy - some peppermint, a hint of smoke and barley sugar. A little rough around the edges. A wee bit of tropical fruits, especially banana - but it is all oh so quiet. Needs more character here. Water adds the slightest touch of maltiness but the nose is still very closed.

On the palate, quite malty with some light milk chocolate, papaya and a touch of spice. The age of the whisky comes through here - quite rich and complex. Barley sugar comes out with a drop of water. Very satisfying, especially after that quite nose.

The finish is brackish, with more pronounced peat and sea salt. Spicy and also herbal - long and very clean. Very interesting whisky, not what I was expecting - similar notes as the 1950s bottle but much quieter overall. It's really too bad about the nose, but perhaps some people fancy a whisky that is shy at first? I wish I had a current bottling to compare it with - in fact, I brought back a bottle for my father from my first trip to Scotland, as a birthday gift. A few weeks later, I came to visit and asked my dad for a dram, as I had always wanted to taste it. He sheepishly looked at me and said, "I drank it. All of it." So perhaps I'll never know...

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6 comments

@Nozinan
Nozinan commented

I was offered a bottle of this once...someone was cleaning up her parents' house. But it was unsealed and leaking so I passed. Smelled good in my hand though...

9 years ago 0

@talexander
talexander commented

Unsealed and leaking means you made the right choice - but I do recommend this, though I don't know where you'd find it.

9 years ago 0

@talexander
talexander commented

It should be noted that today Dimple 15 is bottled at 40%, but this mini is at 43%. I've found another bottle with a similar label design that dates back to the 1990s, so perhaps that is where this bottle is from.

9 years ago 0

@Robert99
Robert99 commented

It sound very interesting. Could there be some Clynelish in this blend? I myself have usually some papaya and of course sea salt on the finish when drinking Clynelish and his wax can make a body rich.

9 years ago 0

@talexander
talexander commented

I don't know, @Robert99, if Clynelish is in the blend. Apparently it has a high malt content (which you can tell when you drink it) and features Glenkinchie and Linkwood (neither of which I'm expert enough to discern from the blend).

9 years ago 0

@Robert99
Robert99 commented

@Talexander, thank you for your quick answer. Whith this new infos, it sounds even more interesting. Good for you! Cheers!

9 years ago 0

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