An older, bourbon matured version of the 15 year old Single Barrel. A discontinued favorite for many Balvenie fans.
1.1 (Burnished)
Nose
Lots of vanilla. Cookies. The nose has a sharp kick with some citrus in it hiding in the curtains.
Palate
Very balanced mouthfeel on the light side with a classic ex-bourbon composition - vanilla, spice and a little fruit. A clear and very nice creamy taste.
Finish
No-frills Balvenie - wood spice, vanilla, some nuts, a little floral. Not far off the 17 year old DoubleWood actually, but without the sherry influence and with a slightly bigger taste.
Really nothing unexpected from this great dram. A clear step up from the 12 and 17 year old DoubleWoods, considerable more refined and less sharp than the 12 year old Single Barrels I've tried, and of course quite different from the 15 year old from sherry casks. I love the 12 SB for its brashness, I love this for the class.
Score
85 / 100
0-50 Subpar
51-60 Drinkable
61-70 Decent
71-80 Good
81-90 Great
91-100 Fantastic
| Country | Scotland |
|---|---|
| Region | Speyside |
| Brand | Balvenie |
| Distillery | Balvenie Distillery |
| Title | Single Barrel |
| Abv (%) | 47.8 |
| Production Year | 1988 |
| Bottling Year | 2004 |
| Age | 15 |
| Batch/Cask | Cask #5996 |
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