Nose - Gentle fresh cut apples, light sweet ashy smoke, honey sweetened black tea Taste - Light ashy smoke, bit thin, fresh cut apples, pears, lightly grassy, hint of salt Finish - Very gentle ashy heat, faint watered down apple juice sweet, cracked black pepper heat/tingle Score - 73/100 Final Thoughts - So there's nothing really bad about this pour, but at the same time there's nothing really exciting about it either. Nothing really stands out for being a 17 year Scotch and it feels kind of boring. Almost like Monkey Shoulder with a tiny bit of ashy smoke in the background. Not amazing, but not bad either. Not really many complex flavors and I'd say this is best to give someone who wants to dabble with some peat, but isn't quite ready to jump into the deep end. Overall not bad, but a bit boring. Would I drink it if offered? - Yes Would I specifically order it? - No Would I buy a bottle? - No NOTE - All reviews are done without factoring in price.
About this bottle
In 2001, The Balvenie Distillery prepared a rare batch of peated whiskey. After a time, Malt Master David Stewart, decided to transfer them to newly prepared traditional casks. The casks that had originally held the peated liquid had taken on much of its character, so after initial maturation in American oak, Stewart decided to experiment by giving non-peated 17 Year Old Balvenie a quick finish in the casks that once held the peated liquid to take on some its flavor. Therefore, this is not a peated Scotch per se, but one that has a peated cask finish.
How it tastes
Measured across 14 flavor axes. Tap a note to find other bottles that lead with it.
Reviews
Showing the most detailed of 12 parsed reviews.
This is some straight up 3 piece suit wearing, I own 4 giant Irish Wolfhounds, and have a billiards table in my rich mahogany wrapped library, drink. I think if I had covid, this would kill it and turn it into chest hair. This manly dram is a smoke filled medicinal dream. The palate has some smoked honey glazed ham, peat, and ocean water. The good northern Scotland kind, not that Myrtle Beach kid piss.
Nose- characteristic honey but with noticeable peat, hot to the nose Body- well balanced peat and honey with spicy peppercorns and lemon zest Finish- gives way to sweet honey and nutmeg with a hint of sulphur stemming from the peat Note- this is one of the more complex Balvenies that I have tasted. I liked this quite a bit and found it to be well balanced.
My absolute favorite whiskey of all time. I usueally find Balvenie to have notes of honey and vanilla, so when that is combines with the smokey peat, it's my dream come true. This scotch was the inspiration behind the name of my company and blog: Smoke & Honey. That's how much I love it!
Smells of sweet vanilla sea salt. Has very fresh burst of vanilla and fruit. Has a peaty earthy fruity taste. Very complex
Very smooth with spiced cigar after taste.
6 more reviews were collected for this bottle. The longest ones are shown first.
Tastes like this
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