Balvenie is a Speyside distillery that is situated in Dufftown. Originally the distillery was created by converting an 18th-century mansion house. This original template has changed little over the years. When the distillery was built, stills were purchased from Lagavulin to save money, but over the years stills have been added and now production is up to nearly six million litres.
We had the pleasure of taking part in a tweet tasting of the Balvenie Craftsman’s Dinner. This was a really interesting series of food and whisky pairings.
Price: £70 – 90
ABV: 43%
Appearance: Golden straw drying on an autumnal Scottish field.
Aroma: Fresh, crisp Granny Smith Apples, vanilla and nutmeg spice.
Taste: Initially, the dram is sweet, full of the roundness and fruit of golden sugar. This sweetness is paired with a malty, nutty flavour reminiscent of crisp crunchy nut cornflakes. Lastly, within this section of the dram there is a milky creamy flavour.
This develops into a hot wooden spice, like an exclusive sauna made entirely from oak. Here there is a peanut brittle flavour, which mixes the flavours of caramel and nuts.
The finish is a lovely mix of creaminess, dwindling spice and woodiness.
Mouthfeel: Warmth, Cream and Spice.
Overall: This is a lovely dram, which builds on the flavour profile of Balvenie Doublewood. The American Oak and European Sherry Casks combine with the smooth creamy Balvenie spirit, to make a wooden, spicy, creamy dram. It is very easy to drink, but complex enough to make you want to drink more. The only issue I have here is the price tag, it seems to vary hugely in price dependant on where it is purchased from. I would not consider a purchase at the top end and would still be very reluctant to purchase at the lower end of the bracket, which is a shame, as the liquid is great.
Real Dram Factor: 7.9
Source: Tweet Tasting
More Information: The Balvenie Website
Buy Online: Amazon – Balvenie Doublewood 17 YO – £72.00