Archive for the ‘ Balvenie ’ Category
I missed batch 1, sadly.
This is a big, powerful oaky bugger of a dram:
Sweet Oloroso
Bitter dark chocolate
Hazelnuts
Cherry brandy (!)
Damson
Allspice
Honey
Orange zest
It takes water beautifully and, on reduction, is sweeter – some tropical fruits.
Long finish, very well balanced and thoroughly enjoyable.
A very solid 4/5
A single cask from the warehouse 24 club at Balvenie. This is a 15yo butt, I don’t know the cask number or dates (yet) but it’s 59.9%.
Oloroso notes, plums, strawberry jam, really strong honey, toffee apples, a little hint of Chinese 5 spice maybe?
A very pleasing dram. Sweet and full-bodied, quite silky.
3/5
Finished in rum casks, this is a beautiful looking dram – like a Chateau d’yquem.
Massive vanilla influence but not over-sweet, surprisingly. Honey, milk chocolate, raisins, gorgeous malt.
A really nicely balanced dram, one of the few rum finished whiskies I’ve ever really enjoyed.
4/5
Another of Balvenie’s 17 year olds here, the RumCask from 2008 (I think). The bottle hasn’t been open that long, don’t worry!
Tasting blind I don’t think I’d ever have guessed it was finished in jamaican oak. I’m not much of a rum drinker though, I must admit.
It’s a sweet dram, gristy barley, marmalade, honey, vanilla but it’s all about the sugary sweetness and there’s not enough spice to really balance it properly.
From memory, the 14yo Golden Cask is a more complex and more enjoyable rum expression.
2/5
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12yo Balvenie Signature. This is David Stewarts handiwork, it’s his signature on the bottle and it was developed to celebrate his work. First-fill bourbon, refill bourbon and oloroso.
Nose: rich sweet fruit. Dark, spicy and intense yet honeyed.
Palate: more fruit, malt, light spice (cinnamon and a little black pepper), thick honey, vanilla custard, orange zest, hazelnuts.
Finish: Long, sweet and so creamy-smooth.
Balance: perfection.
I love Balvenie, I love the distillery, I love the way they make whisky, I love the tradition, I love the passion, I just love it.
This is an outstanding, spell-binding dram.
5/5.
And it’s how cheap?! Incredible.
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