The In-law's choice, Balvenie Distillery

I think I'll stop doing these weird sessions now, because it all becomes a bit pointless. Anyways, the reason my brother in law (to be) chose Balvenie Distillery is purely because he recognized the name from a TAX-FREE shop he once visited at an airport abroad. Nuff said! Balvenie is the neighbor of Glenfiddich and is also very rare to find bottled by IB's, but I've managed to pick a couple old ones for this tasting.



Balvenie 10yo 40% OB Founders Reserve

The Founders Resere has been released at both 40% and 43%abv. I think the 40%abv was the first batches. Golden color. It smells honeyed and perfumy, gasoline, oaky, a lot of wood influence. The taste is rather thick and creamy, sweet vanilla, creme brulee, brandy, nice one. The finish is on black pepper, salt and dried onions.

A very good Balvenie, affordable good whisky!: 6


Balvenie 17yo 43% OB Madeira Reserve

This one was finished in madeira casks. The color is dark amber. It smells rich, licorice, glue, perfumy, rosé wine, bitters. The taste is light, floral, zesty, onion juice, turmeric, ginger, other root vegetables. This one is a bit harder to follow than the Founders Reserve, but then again, I have never been the biggest fan of Madeira matured whisky.

I did like the Rum Reserve much better: 3


Balvenie-Glenlivet 21yo 1973-1994 52.8% Cadenhead's

As I've already mentioned in the intro, IB Balvenies are quite a rare treat. The color on this one is golden brown, and it turns hazy the minute is it poured. It smells onions again, creamy, herbal, bitter herbs, thyme, absinth and tarragon. Sweet apple cider and butter is also found in this one. The taste is burnt, oaky, burnt again, needs water. A drop or two and heavy breathing makes it peppery, grassy, more like some wild lowlander actually.

Wile stuff, grassy & herbal whisky at its best: 7.5


Balvenie 15yo 1974-1990 57.1% Signatory Vintage cask#18103-18130 btl.493/2400

A freakishly large number of casks has been used to make the 2400 whiskies produced in this batch, and furthermore, this bottle, meaning at least one of them, is a miniature. The color is golden. It smells apple compote, freshly baked apple pie, stewed onions, a nice mixture of apple fruitiness, fresh bakery and browned butter. The taste is heavy smoke and peppery, extremely peppery, reminds me of some recent 10yo Talisker actually. Without the coastal notes. Water added. Now it gets just extremely peppery alongside some onions and herbs. This is by far the most extreme Balvenie I've ever had, and I wish they made them like this these days as well. I would say, if I was sure, that there is peat in this one, but that's impossible to say for sure. I think this extreme version would be quite a hit if turned out these days.

Powerful Balvenie, peat/pepper?: 7.5



Next tasting: Balmenach Distillery