Scotland, Speyside: Single malt whisky through the producing distilleries: history, making,
production and tasting notes
The Balvenie
Distillery description Tasting notes
The distillery
For information about the distillery, please click on the photo.
The whisky
List of the bottles
| Official | Founder's Reserve |  |
4 |
| Official | Double Wood |  |
9 |
| Official | Port Wood 1989 |  |
1 |
| Official | Port Wood 1991 |  |
1 |
| Official | Cask Selection in cask 1992, out cask 2004 | |
1 |
| Official | Single Barrel 15 yo | |
6 |
| Official | Port Wood 21 years | |
4 |
| Official | 14 years old roasted malt |  |
2 |
| Official | Islay Cask | |
3 |
| Official | The Balvenie Thirty |  |
1 |
| Cadenhead | Balvenie-Glenlivet 1974 |  |
1 |
Balvenie |
Founder's Reserve |
Age |
10 years |
Alcohol percentage |
43,0 % |
Bottler |
Official |
  |
|
links & average quote |
  |
The nose is full
and complex, with hints of honey and oranges, and a very light hint of peat.
The palate reveals a honey sweetness with a touch of spices and sherry.
The finish is long and pleasant.
The palate reveals a honey sweetness with a touch of spices and sherry.
The finish is long and pleasant.
Obviously,
when speaking about Speyside, it is difficult not to mention the
Grant family, who is famous for their business genius with Glenfiddich,
and a particular competence to produce an excellent whisky like
The Balvenie. Even this rather young version, 10 years old, is
an essential must in matter of whisky. The Balvenie is obviously
one of the best things the Speyside area ever has produced.
The second tasting revealed a good whisky, with a taste close to honey, a very long finish and the whole was preceded by a pleasant smell. Without being the best of all, this bottle remains very good.
The complex nose mixes acid citrus fruits and sweet honey notes with some spices. In the palate, a kind of bitterness dominates at first, but gradually honey and oranges emerge. A lingering finish, with some acid touches but also some slightly woody hints.
The second tasting revealed a good whisky, with a taste close to honey, a very long finish and the whole was preceded by a pleasant smell. Without being the best of all, this bottle remains very good.
The complex nose mixes acid citrus fruits and sweet honey notes with some spices. In the palate, a kind of bitterness dominates at first, but gradually honey and oranges emerge. A lingering finish, with some acid touches but also some slightly woody hints.
Balvenie |
Double Wood |
Age |
12 years |
Alcohol percentage |
40,0 % |
Bottler |
Official |
Cask |
Sherry |
|
|
links & average quote |
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The
colour is amber, and the nose detects sherry, citrus fruits, honey
and vanilla.
The palate evokes the sherry sweetness, citrus fruit and spices. The finish is long and warm.
During its maturation, the whisky is transferred from a traditional oak bourbon cask in a sherry cask.
This different steps give the final result its quality. The traditional oak sweetens and give it some character, and the sherry cask brings the depth and plenty fragrance.
(la Maison du Whisky)
The palate evokes the sherry sweetness, citrus fruit and spices. The finish is long and warm.
During its maturation, the whisky is transferred from a traditional oak bourbon cask in a sherry cask.
This different steps give the final result its quality. The traditional oak sweetens and give it some character, and the sherry cask brings the depth and plenty fragrance.
(la Maison du Whisky)
This
great classic stays a sure value. The happiness begins by the nose...
Immediately one knows there is a very great malt in the glass.
The sherry finish gives the pitch and promises a great sweet whisky,
aromatically very rich. The finish is also very long and extremely
pleasant. An excellent Speyside, which is really affordable.
The nosing remains a great moment of happiness. A typical sweetness overcomes the nose immediately. The impression in the palate is less clear. A kind of taste duality, probably due to the double maturation gives some problems in the right evaluation of it. A too short final, and the first rating is slightly modified...
At the third tasting, the nose was rather discrete, revealing some floral hints on a vanilla background. In the palate, the vanilla was still present, with a touch of spices and a discrete hint of sherry. The sherry is present in the rather long finish as well. The finish is further marked by some citrus fruit hints.
A nice nose marked by beautiful roasted barley hints with clear vanilla notes, nice hints of fruit and a hint of marshmallow. A well balanced whisky and probably a very smooth one.
In the palate, nice roasted cereal hints, walnut and malt. Some chocolate too. Quite an interesting and relatively complex mouth. The balance the nose announced is perfectly confirmed in the palate.
The finish is smooth and lingering. The chocolate notes and the nutty hints of both the nose and mouth are plainly present here too. A very nice bottle I really recommend.
The nosing remains a great moment of happiness. A typical sweetness overcomes the nose immediately. The impression in the palate is less clear. A kind of taste duality, probably due to the double maturation gives some problems in the right evaluation of it. A too short final, and the first rating is slightly modified...
At the third tasting, the nose was rather discrete, revealing some floral hints on a vanilla background. In the palate, the vanilla was still present, with a touch of spices and a discrete hint of sherry. The sherry is present in the rather long finish as well. The finish is further marked by some citrus fruit hints.
A nice nose marked by beautiful roasted barley hints with clear vanilla notes, nice hints of fruit and a hint of marshmallow. A well balanced whisky and probably a very smooth one.
In the palate, nice roasted cereal hints, walnut and malt. Some chocolate too. Quite an interesting and relatively complex mouth. The balance the nose announced is perfectly confirmed in the palate.
The finish is smooth and lingering. The chocolate notes and the nutty hints of both the nose and mouth are plainly present here too. A very nice bottle I really recommend.
Comment by | Appearance: The colour is like concentrated apple-juice. Copper. Nose: Nice, quite citric and fresh but deep and nutty at the same time. Some rubber comes forward while new wood and curry powder lingers in the background. Lots of fruits. Diluted nose lends more fragrant notes with some feints. Body: Quite firm, full bodied but doesn't feel oily. Palate: Warm and sweet with some nuttyness. Dryer towards the finish. The nose gave a better impression than the palate. |  |
Comment by |
Colour: Dark amber, (coloured or not, the label don’t say anything. But somehow it looks coloured to me, or is it from the sherry cask...?). |
|
Balvenie |
Port Wood 21 years |
Age |
21 years |
Alcohol percentage |
40,0 % |
Bottler |
Official |
Cask |
Porto |
|
|
links & average quote |
|
The
very soft nose recalls precious wood (rose wood) with a touch of
spices (pepper). A fragrance of ripe and fruity grape is followed
by a dryer nuts one.
The palate is winy and fruity (orange, peach). The subtle finish is slightly bitter. Fruit touches, recalling honey and spices finish the remarkably creamy character , before the long finish, with a sweet hazelnut taste.
After ageing in a traditional cask, this whisky has been transferred in a port cask ("pipe"). The maturation and finishing process is regularly checked..
The Balvenie PortWood won a golden medal at the "International Spirits Challenge 2001”
The palate is winy and fruity (orange, peach). The subtle finish is slightly bitter. Fruit touches, recalling honey and spices finish the remarkably creamy character , before the long finish, with a sweet hazelnut taste.
After ageing in a traditional cask, this whisky has been transferred in a port cask ("pipe"). The maturation and finishing process is regularly checked..
The Balvenie PortWood won a golden medal at the "International Spirits Challenge 2001”
The
nose recalls red fruits macerated in alcohol. If the port finish
usually brings the whisky a great sweetness, the bitter impression
is dominant in this version. The complex taste, with some acid
touches, is closer to a sherry finish as from a port finish. The
finish from an average length. An excellent bottle, but I was a
little bit disappointed. I'll probably have to taste it a second
time in better conditions...
At the second tasting, the nose was rather rich, sweet and spicy at the time. In the palate, this whisky is pleasant, with some citrus hints, on a malty background. Sweet with some more bitter or acid touches. A relatively short, however interesting finish.
The nose is very perfumed, with floral and honeyish hints. A touch of smoke too. A kind of fruity freshness. The palate is sweet as well, with a very light touch oc acidity, but it remains rather boring and monotonous. No surprise. The mouth is "honnest", but banal. The finish is quite long, marked by the same honeyish sweetness and the same acid touch than nose and mouth were.
At the second tasting, the nose was rather rich, sweet and spicy at the time. In the palate, this whisky is pleasant, with some citrus hints, on a malty background. Sweet with some more bitter or acid touches. A relatively short, however interesting finish.
The nose is very perfumed, with floral and honeyish hints. A touch of smoke too. A kind of fruity freshness. The palate is sweet as well, with a very light touch oc acidity, but it remains rather boring and monotonous. No surprise. The mouth is "honnest", but banal. The finish is quite long, marked by the same honeyish sweetness and the same acid touch than nose and mouth were.
Balvenie |
Islay Cask |
Age |
17 years |
Alcohol percentage |
43,0 % |
Bottler |
Official |
Cask |
Islay whisky |
Bottle |
- of 94 btls |
|
|
links & average quote |
 |
The
superb colour is old gold. The nose, smoky and slightly medicinal
recalls liquorice, citrus fruits (pickled orange), ripe fruits
(peach) and smooth vanilla touches.
The palate is even more surprising, and reveals peat, malted smoked barley, roots, and confirms the intense liquorice feeling the nose first detected.
The long finish goes to oily touches of flowers (broom, mimosa). The peaty character of this great whisky is much lighter as the Islay whiskies, where the sea influence is more present.
The whisky spent the 6 last months of its maturation in cask having contained Islay malt, after 17 years in traditional bourbon casks.
Only 94 casks has had this kind of aging, and the result is a perfect harmony between the smoked and peaty character of Islay, and the smoother character of a traditional Balvenie
The palate is even more surprising, and reveals peat, malted smoked barley, roots, and confirms the intense liquorice feeling the nose first detected.
The long finish goes to oily touches of flowers (broom, mimosa). The peaty character of this great whisky is much lighter as the Islay whiskies, where the sea influence is more present.
The whisky spent the 6 last months of its maturation in cask having contained Islay malt, after 17 years in traditional bourbon casks.
Only 94 casks has had this kind of aging, and the result is a perfect harmony between the smoked and peaty character of Islay, and the smoother character of a traditional Balvenie
Strange
combination, the jewel of the Speyside area matured in casks having
contained smoky and peaty whisky from Islay. The first contact
is disconcerting. The nose offers a mix of unexpected fragrances,
but is rather interesting. The palate is special too. A Speyside
with Islay hints. Salt-sugared. Good whisky. An oily impression
too. A finish of average length. A very good bottle.
During the second tasting, a slightly acid dominant characteristic and a relatively short finish made me review my first quotation. The salted hints, inherited from the stay in Islay cask are still present.
During the third tasting, this whisky seemed to be completely different from the 2 first times (own taste evolution, or action of the time on the spirit?). The nose is very fruity, revealing clearly pear fragrances and a nice complexity. In the palate, this whisky is nicely fruity and complex, mixing pear hints to clearly floral notes, on an earthy background, giving to this whisky a kind of musty impression, probably due to the influence of the Islay cask. The finish is lingering and floral, and very interesting.
During the second tasting, a slightly acid dominant characteristic and a relatively short finish made me review my first quotation. The salted hints, inherited from the stay in Islay cask are still present.
During the third tasting, this whisky seemed to be completely different from the 2 first times (own taste evolution, or action of the time on the spirit?). The nose is very fruity, revealing clearly pear fragrances and a nice complexity. In the palate, this whisky is nicely fruity and complex, mixing pear hints to clearly floral notes, on an earthy background, giving to this whisky a kind of musty impression, probably due to the influence of the Islay cask. The finish is lingering and floral, and very interesting.
Balvenie |
Single Barrel 15 yo |
Age |
15 years |
Alcohol percentage |
47,8 % |
Bottler |
Official |
Particularity |
(Single Cask) |
|
|
links & average quote |
|
The colour is pale
gold. The nose is dry and reveals heather and exotic fruits touches. The palate, with fine wood hints confirms
the nose. The finish is dry and spicy.
The
traditional Balvenie lover can be a little thrown by this bottle,
not far from a cask strength, but far from the traditional Balvenie
taste. The honey sweetness is not present here. Some more acid
touches, cut grass (?) or citrus fruits. The whole is rather refreshing,
despite the strong alcohol degree. One would prefer a longer finish.
Just like the first time, I was rather surprised by this very good whisky which does not taste like most of the Speyside malts. There is something special in the taste (heather?) which makes it really a whisky a part. A very good bottling.
The nose, revealing some remote hints of undergrowth with slight tingling's and which express a rather acid character and a wax smell is quite surprising. In the palate, this whisky is rather complex and this acidity remains together with some exotic fruits. The finish is definitely too short. A nice whisky.
A very nice nose marked by floral notes and hints of ripe fruit. Sweet spices, cinnamon, enhance this quite remarkable nose.
In the palate, first impression is a kind of acidity which dominates, clearly less "colourful" than announced by the nose. More complexity would be appreciated.
The finish is fresh and rather long and prolongs the simplicity of the mouth with a predominance of acid notes and alcohol.
Just like the first time, I was rather surprised by this very good whisky which does not taste like most of the Speyside malts. There is something special in the taste (heather?) which makes it really a whisky a part. A very good bottling.
The nose, revealing some remote hints of undergrowth with slight tingling's and which express a rather acid character and a wax smell is quite surprising. In the palate, this whisky is rather complex and this acidity remains together with some exotic fruits. The finish is definitely too short. A nice whisky.
A very nice nose marked by floral notes and hints of ripe fruit. Sweet spices, cinnamon, enhance this quite remarkable nose.
In the palate, first impression is a kind of acidity which dominates, clearly less "colourful" than announced by the nose. More complexity would be appreciated.
The finish is fresh and rather long and prolongs the simplicity of the mouth with a predominance of acid notes and alcohol.
Balvenie |
Balvenie-Glenlivet 1974 |
Age |
29 years |
Alcohol percentage |
48 % |
Bottler |
Cadenhead |
links & average quote |
|
Balvenie |
Port Wood 1991 |
Age |
12 years |
Alcohol percentage |
40 % |
Bottler |
Official |
Particularity |
(No qutoation fot this whisky. See note under comment on French page) |
links & average quote |
|
Balvenie |
Cask Selection in cask 1992, out cask 2004 |
Age |
12 years |
Alcohol percentage |
40 % |
Bottler |
Official |
Particularity |
(No quotation for this whisky. See note under comment on French page) |
links & average quote |
|
Balvenie |
14 years old roasted malt |
Age |
14 years |
Alcohol percentage |
47,1 % |
Bottler |
Official |
|
|
links & average quote |
|
Balvenie |
The Balvenie Thirty |
Age |
30 years |
Alcohol percentage |
47,3 % |
Bottler |
Official |
|
|
links & average quote |
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|
Last update:
Last modified: October 17 2011 18:10:43.
- Copyright:Jean-Marie Putz (2003-2011) |
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