ABV: 43 %
Origin: Speyside
Type: Single malt
Bottles in collection: 0
Emptied bottles: 1
Impression: 4/5

Tasting notes
Nose: This is very sweet and fruity. It’s got a really thick layer of brown sugar and brown syryp. Underneath the classic Balvenie fruitiness comes through with orange peel as the main attraction, but red apples and some raspberries are in there as well. A touch of cinnamon and chocolate completes this full and very rich nose.

Mouth: First impact is a very mild one. The sweetness, now with honey added, is first to come through and then cinnamon follows together with a small spicy note. The oak shows up and brings walnuts and dark chocolate. There’s a bitter tone to it and that sort of transcends from the oak into a fruitiness. It’s leaning heavily towards orange peel that, together with the sweetness, creates a layer of marmelade.There’s still a hint of red apples and raspberries but those are now well hidden in the background. There’s a touch of dust and it’s slightly astringent.

Finish: The flavours are very immidiate and a warm cinnamon spicyness teams up with brown syryp, honey and the orange peel. The rest of the fruitiness is not present anymore. It turns more and more towards the bitter side the longer the finish goes. It ends with oakiness, dust, walnuts and some cocoa powder. This is a christmas dessert in a glass.

Additional information
This 14 YO is aged for around 13-14 years in traditional american ex-bourbon barrels and then finished in new american oak casks seasoned with caribbean rum for about 9 months.

If you like my reviews and wish to offer a small donation, please click the ”donate” button below!