Balvenie Tun 1401 Batch 5

Who here is old enough to remember that first Batman that came out on the big screen? I think it was 1988 if I’m not mistaken. I was a kid then, but I so was eagerly waiting to go see it. My friends and I would ride our skateboards all day and talk about nothing but saving up to go see Batman. We’d plan a day’s event around it. First go play video games ( specifically StreetFighter ) at the arcade, then go watch Batman, and after the movie, go to the ice cream shop and have root beer floats while talking about Batman. We’d save up weeks so we can afford it. Yes...we blew this image of a perfect day in our heads. Now take that close to perfect day and transpose it on what your ideal whisky would taste like. Chances are it’ll lean towards an old school sherry backed regal Macallan or Balvenie, or an elegant smoky one like an older Lagavulin or Ardbeg. If it wasn’t for real life mortgage, taxes and living expenses, you’d also plan on saving up for it and planning an entire event around it. Maybe opening it up at your wedding day, or birth of a child, or your child’s wedding. This is one of those whiskeys. At the current prices very much north of $1000, it’s not something I’d just go buy during some shopping errand. In fact, I’d never buy it. But I signed up for an online tasting event, where this was part of the show ( the event is tomorrow but I didnt have the patience, so had a few sips). This is a vatting of 5 bourbon casks ( 1966, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975) and 4 sherry casks ( 1970, 1971, 1972, 1975). Components of this are old and austere. These were aged together for a few months before being bottled. Nose is amazing —beeswax and honey. Polished oak. Taste is a step up from the nose: fruity, leather, old books in a library, plums. Amazing. This is just blending excellence. When it came out at $200, it was a steal. Now, I believe it’s over $1200-2000. My sample was less than 3 cl, but thoroughly memorable.

Amazing, like this better than Tun 1509 Batch 1 with elevation on dark and tropical flavors. Casks filled between 1966 and 1991 with 7 of them filled in the 1970s, youngest whisky here is 21 years old. Nose: Raisins, Dates, Figs, Pineapples, Mangoes, Papayas, Passion Fruit, Toffee, Honey, Walnut Banana Bread, Coconuts, Coffee, Cinnamon, Hazlenuts, Nutmeg, Chili, Oranges, Guavas Palate: Vanilla, Raisins, Honey, Toffee, Coconuts, Almonds, Shortbread Cookies, Oranges, Walnuts, Cherries, Pineapples, Mangoes, Papayas, Figs, Leather, Licorice, Cloves, Tobacco Finish: Raisins, Figs, Dates, Dark Chocolate, Toffee, Honey, Bananas, Sultanas, Sour Cherries, Pineapples, Mangoes, Prunes

Really lovely aroma. Which is totally my jam. Jasmine, vanilla, and light leather. Spicy malt, vanilla pudding, and lengthy elegant tannins. Hot damn!

Tasted at distillery. Very good.

Awesome long finish.

Exceptional