Tag Archives: Soft

A World of Discovery, Balvenie

The Balvenie 17yr Rum Cask

Speyside – 43%ABV – 750ml – $81-140 (another HUGE spread, no shit!) | £62 | €76

Balvenie Week, Day #2.

One thing I’ve mentioned a few times in the past, but failed to mention yesterday, is that there is something so very special happening in New York City this Thursday (August 26th, 2010).  The Whisky Guild is hosting another great “Whisky on the Hudson” cruise that day.

While that is great news in and of itself, the fact that The Balvenie will be hosting a room which is supposed to replicate their “Warehouse 24” back at their distillery is something quite amazing.  Why is it amazing?  Well, there’s going to be over 29 malts to taste including The Balvenie Rose (a distillery only dram), the new 17yr Peated Cask (yet to be released) and many, many, many others.

In addition to what The Balvenie will be offering, there’s going to be over 200 whiskies to taste that night.  Oh yeah.  Let the whisky geekery begin!

For more info and to buy a ticket or three, click here.

While I’ll be reviewing The Balvenie 17yr Rum Cask today, Ian Watson, who works in maltings at The Balvenie, will be telling us what his favorite Balvenie expression is and why:

On to my review of the 17yr Rum Cask:

On the nose – Holy pirate rum influence!

Sugar cane and rock candy.

Burnt Demerara sugar and ginger snaps.

Rubber shoe soles.

Apricots with hints of burnt coconut shreds.

Bartlett pear.

On the mouth – The word here is soft.  Like sipping cotton balls (look that that bunny!  Does it get softer than this?  No, me thinks).

The 2nd 17yr Balvenie I’ve had (the first being the Madeira Cask) and again, this is pure sexy.

The nose is interesting but the palate is where it’s at.

Apple sauce and pure malt.

Sugar babies and brown sugar edible undies (I did say this was a sexy dram, right?).

Finish – Spicy, somehow, in comparison to the palate.

Menthol (slight) and then some pastries or fruit tarts.

Wait, nutmeg creeps up.

Very nice.

Very entertain.

In sum – The nose was interesting but not something I normally look for in a dram.  The palate, however, was delectable.  The finish was mixed but, I liked it.  A conversation piece for sure.  One to enjoy in company whilst you’re geeking out about whisky.

All You Need Is Love, Autumn, Cold Winter, Highland Park, Need To Bundle Up, Springtime, Summertime, Takin' It Easy

Highland Park 18yr – The best dram I’ve tasted in 2009!

Islands – 43%ABV – 750ml bottle – $75-99 | £55 | €64

I’ve read so many reviews on the HP18 (Highland Park, not Harry Potter, come on people!!) I figured, enough is enough – I had to try just to see what all the hoop-a-lah was about.

Back in October of 2009 I went to The Scottish Arms in St. Louis Missouri. If you’ve never been, go. Now. More than 150 drams (Scottish, Japanese, American, you name it) on their whisky menu – amazing! Well, while I was there I tried the HP18 and all I could say was…”eh…, so what”

PLEASE READ ON

I realized the reason the whisky was so sub-stellar was just because of the type of glass they used (should have brought my own Glencairn) and the fact that I had food getting in the way of the tasting. Note to self: only taste when you’re either A) done with food or B) haven’t had food yet (though on an empty stomach… that can be…ummmm…fun?!).

So, after many people telling me that I must be crazy for thinking the Highland Park 18 was no more than a big yawn, a little while later, I decided to shut them up and lay down the casheesh to buy a bottle.  I actually got the bottle for much less than what is shown but, it was an eBay buy so I won’t post that price.  Let’s just say, I got it for about the price of the standard 12yr bottle of Highland Park!!

Around this time I was reading that many people do their whisky tasting in the morning time so I decided to conduct my tasting during that time myself.  What a way to start the day!!  The following notes, by the way, were written in October, 2009:

Nose (almost 3 full whiffs!!) — Not as smokey as I had anticipated. Very sweet smelling, almost juicy with an underlying smokiness to it. Second whiff: More of the same, this time a little more smoke but now the oak came out a bit and something almost tropical – overripe banana perhaps? I couldn’t wait for the 3rd whiff…

Palate — Absolutely one of the most succulent drops I’ve ever had! The smoke was underlying but kept peaking it’s head out and was balanced so well by the sweetness. Sherry notes but thankfully not overly so. The age came out a bit, long vanilla oak notes and more sweet smoke. G-d damn, I’m in heaven!

Finish — Soft and silky, warming (which is much needed as it was 33deg F this morning!), smokey and long.

In sum — Those who know me now I am a devoted fan of the Glenmorangie line but I have to say, with the exception of the D’or (which remains to be my dram of choice), this has knocked all of the other Glenmos out of the way! Maybe it’s the weather, maybe it’s because I had it in the morning, I don’t know. I can tell you that I think I’m in love.