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Balvenie
 scrapes in
 decent
 good
 excellent
 sublime
Balvenie, Madeira Cask 17-year-old (Scotland) 
This month sees the launch of The Balvenie Madeira Cask 17 Year Old, which follows up on last year’s limited release Balvenie Rum Cask 17 Year Old.
The Balvenie Malt Master David Stewart says that “Each bottling is its own alchemy of spirit, wood and time, but knowing how well port and Oloroso Sherry cask maturation complements The Balvenie’s honeyed sweetness we were sure that a Madeira cask would produce interesting results. The 17-year-old whisky extracted some wonderful rich spice and distinct raisin flavours from the Madeira cask, which we hope malt enthusiasts will enjoy discovering in the glass.”
Where the use of former rum casks for finishing purposes gave The Balvenie a rich sweetness, the use of ex-Madeira casks provides a spicy counterpoint. Warm and sweet on the nose, with spicy vanilla, cinnamon and stewed apples. Full-bodied and fruity on the palate, with notes of vanilla and dates. The finish is long and initially sweet, with a developing dry oakiness.
43.0% ABV, 70cl, £69.99, specialist whisky merchants.  |  |
Balvenie, Roasted Malt 14-Year-Old (Scotland)
The latest release from Balvenie distillery in Dufftown is The Balvenie Roasted Malt, the first single malt Scotch whisky to be made using a batch of dark, roasted malted barley, more commonly used in the production of stout.
In the summer of 1992, a batch of barley was germinated over 24 hours (as opposed to the usual five days) before being kiln dried. It was then heated in a roasting drum at a temperature of 200oC and mixed with traditional malted barley, prior to the mashing stage. The barley was completely roasted to between 1600 and 1800 European Brewing Colour (EBC) units. Normal malted barley only reaches around 30 EBCs.
Made from a single batch of just 43 casks, The Balvenie Roasted Malt is a limited edition, and is not chill-filtered prior to bottling.
On the nose, this expression exhibits the classic fruity, floral and honey notes that are the hallmarks of The Balvenie, along with overtones of spice, toasted oats, and a hint of vanilla. Smooth, rich and malty on the palate, with delicious spicy, vanilla sweetness, plus orange marmalade and fudge. The finish is long and beautifully balanced between sweetness and drying oak. Another exceptional release from this great Speyside distillery.
47.1% ABV, 70cl, £45.00, specialist whisky merchants. |  |
Balvenie, Rum Wood 17-Year-Old (Scotland)
The practice of using former rum casks for the maturation of Scotch whisky predates the use of ex-Sherry and Bourbon wood, dating back to the 19th century, and William Grant & Sons Ltd has employed casks which previously contained Jamaican rum to ‘finish’ its latest Balvenie release.
Balvenie RumWood is a limited edition, with just 320 cases due to be launched into the UK market this month, and Balvenie ‘malt master’ David Stewart says “This sweet and intense 17-year-old is an exceptionally pleasurable dram.”
The nose offers very sweet tropical fruits, floral and slightly oily, with coconut. Not exactly Balvenie as we know it, but a captivating nose. The palate opens with more tropical fruits, but now elements of Balvenie’s ‘signature’ character also emerge in the shape of fresh fruit, spice, vanilla and honey. The finish is long and sensuous, with spicy rum notes and sweet oak. Altogether a beautifully judged confection.
43.0% ABV, 70cl, £65.00, specialist whisky merchants. |  |
Balvenie, Sherryoak 17-Year-Old (Scotland)
The best-known example of The Balvenie to have been matured solely in Sherry casks was the 50-year-old ‘Cask 191,’ just 83 bottles of which were filled in 2002 with a retail price tag of £6,000 per bottle. This 17-year-old expression is altogether more affordable at £60, and has been held in European Sherry butts, previously used to mature Oloroso Sherry, and purchased from the bodegas of Spain.
The nose presents well worn leather upholstery, cloves, medium-dry Sherry and delicate liquorice. Delicious on the rich, ripe palate, with flavours of fruity Sherry, nutmeg, cinnamon and tangy spice. Water releases pleasing vanilla and oak notes. The finish is lengthy, with stewed fruits, tasty spices and a hint of oak.
The Balvenie SherryOak is available from autumn 2007 on strict allocation in markets which include the UK, USA and France. For more information see www.balvenie.com.
43.0% ABV, 70cl, £60.00, specialist whisky merchants. |  |
Balvenie, Signature 12-Year-Old (Scotland)
According to the distillers, “The 12-year-old single malt from the Speyside distillery is a skilful marriage from three cask types - first fill Bourbon barrels, refill casks and Sherry butts. From the Sherry butts comes rich fruit and spiciness; the Bourbon barrels add subtle vanilla oak and layers of honey, and the refill casks impart delicate, sweet notes and smoothness. The result of this union is a perfect balance of spice and subtle oak, deliciously enveloped in The Balvenie’s trademark honeyed character.”
Rich and malty on the nose, with characteristically insinuating notes of spice, dried fruits, vanilla and honey. Becoming increasingly floral, with soft toffee and a hint of sweet Sherry as it warms in the glass. Full-bodied on the palate, yet with classic Balvenie smoothness and grace. Vanilla, honey, Sherried cinnamon, nutmeg and a whiff of smoke merge beautifully. The finish is long with spicy oak. A great whisky. David Stewart has performed his magic once again!
40.0% ABV, 70cl, £30.00, specialist whisky merchants. |  |
Balvenie, Signature Batch Three 12-year-old (Scotland)
Balvenie Signature was created by Malt Master David Stewart, using whisky matured in a mixture of first-fill Bourbon, refill Bourbon and ex-Sherry casks. It is produced in small, numbered batches, the third of which hits the shelves this month. According to a Balvenie spokesperson, “From the Sherry butts comes rich fruit and spiciness; the Bourbon barrels convey subtle vanilla oak and layers of honey, while the refill casks impart delicate, sweet notes and smoothness. The result of this union is a perfect balance of spice and subtle oak, deliciously enveloped in The Balvenie’s honeyed character.” Malty and gently floral on the nose. Livelier and fruitier with water. The palate is smooth and complex, with spicy malt and a hint of Sherry. The finish is medium in length, with cinder toffee and mild oak.
40.0% ABV, 70cl, £31.49, specialist whisky merchants. |  |
Balvenie, Vintage Cask 1971 (Scotland)
Continuing the democratic cask selection process used to choose the Glenfiddich Vintage Reserve1972, this Balvenie comes courtesy of David Stewart and a trio of former excise officers, all living in north-east Scotland. Stewart, Ian Milne, Gordon Cox and Tony Collins plumped for this 1971 expression, which boasts a magnificent nose: rich, honeyed, and leathery. Intense and beautifully balanced. Vast and complex on the palate: fruit, nuts, spices, vanilla. Delicious. A fine example of how, given really good wood, decent whisky can thrive into near middle age. 46.7% ABV, 70cl, £280, specialist whisky merchants. |  |
Balvenie, Vintage Cask 1972 (Scotland)
To help choose this latest Balvenie Vintage Cask bottling, Malt Master David Stewart
enlisted representatives from the tea and coffee industries to put their extensive nosing and tasting experience to an alternative use. Tim Clifton and Michael Bunston, Vice Chairman and Chairman, respectively, of the International Tea Committee and Angus Kerr, Chairman of the UK Coffee Trade Federation swapped tea leaves and coffee beans for malt whisky casks.
Just five casks were chosen, yielding 744 bottles, and Stewart noted “The trademark honeyed characteristics of the distillery are very prevalent, combined with a gentle nutty nose and creamy butterscotch flavour with a hint of spice. The finish is long, lingering and sweet, just what you’d expect from one of our vintage casks.”
Apricots, mango and bubblegum on the nose, overlaid with soft malt. Delicious! The palate delivers exactly what the nose promises. A lovely, medium-bodied whisky, filled with tropical fruits and spices, but with a backbone of firm malt and a little smoke. Spices, bubblegum and slowly drying oak in the lengthy finish. Once again, proof that The Balvenie grows old very gracefully. 47.3% ABV, 70cl, £300.00, specialist whisky merchants. |  |
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