Balvenie Rose 16 Year Old Second Release

Balvenie 15 Year Old single cask No. 7619

Back in the mists of time Balvenie used to bottle this at much closer to, if not actually, cask strength, but they watered it down gradually to the unlikely abv of 47.8% several years ago. This particular bottle has been open a few years and probably has lost some of its finer notes, but this review may be a useful comparison with some recent ones...

Score 83/100

Balvenie 12 Year Old DoubleWood

This Balvenie (excuse me: 'The Balvenie'!) was part of a gift box that I got from my co-workers for my birthday. Tonight I decided to give it a go. This single malt get his character - like the name implies - by maturing on two types of casks: first the American ex-bourbon oak and then finished for several months on oloroso sherry casks. The...

Score 80/100

Balvenie Tun 1401 Batch 5

To smell; Deep, dark, thick and dried fruits; Musty Cherry, plum, fig. Thick and syrupy nose. Feels like you’re in the warehouse with the maturing whisky. Evolves at its own pace; cinnamon, nutmeg, chocolate chip cookie dough, brown sugar, then other sweet baking notes. Soft coffee in the background. Light wood shavings. Every now and then a sweet...

Score 94/100

Balvenie 12 Year Old DoubleWood

the doublewood is the entry level Balvenie. It is a sherry finish (as opposed to the signature, which combines some sherried whisky). It is available in supermarkets and airports and retails around £32, although is often discounted (currently £25 in my local Morrisons!). Balvenie make 5.6 million litres of spirit a year, none of which goes into...

Score 87/100