Tasting 5 Balmenachs

Balmenach is not a widespread whisky, and although the Distillery goes back as far as 1824, I do not think it's ever gained much fame and glory. It's said to operate in a very old-fashioned manner and producing a light style malt. The ones I'll be trying in this session are all high-strength CS-versions, so granted the spirity notes won't overpower the malt and oaky, I think these ones perhaps will show the core of the spirit of Balmenach. I remember I had a Deerstalker(Balmenach) at 40%abv, and I can surely agree it was a very light whisky.



Balmenach 21yo 1979-2000 58% Scott's Selection

I did have a little warm-up whisky before starting a tasting at 58%abv. Which is a tip I'd like to share because the palate could find it hard to divide the nuances in such a high strength spirit if it hasn't been given a small starter. Some always do this before a session with a so-called reference whisky, of which they compare the other whiskies in the session too. The color on this ones is light golden. It smells floral, white wine, grainy, rubber, vanilla, fresh, a summers dram so far. The taste is vanilla, lemon, lime, grape fruit, gin, zesty, fruity, pastis. Wow, this is a true summers dram, perfectly fruity/sour. I love it!

In the category light'n'fruity it's a winner: 8


Balmenach/Scots, Wha Hae 18yo 60.2% The Whisky Connoisseur cask#7314

The Whisky Connoisseur is one of the quietest IB's in Scotland I think, which I believe are only bottling miniatures. I've had both highs and lows from them. The color is golden. It smells syrup, caramel, rich, creamy, floral, herbal, malt syrup. The taste is very sweet, honey and vanilla, peppery, perhaps its due for a small addition of water. With a drop of water it turns sweeter, more rustic, red onions, dried paprika, shallots, much better. If it wasn't for the distinct spirity note on the palate this one would have me go even higher than...

8!: 8


Balmenach 32yo 1977-2009 55.7% Flying Pigs for Juuls

This one comes from a sherry cask, so it could maybe show a bit more complexity. I mean, the 21 and 18yo was excellent, but very light, this might be a bit more heavy, if you know what I mean. Color is dark brown/red. It smells cinnamon, dried red paprika, barbecue sauce, fried bananas, vanilla, oloroso sherry. The taste is peppery, chili, hot sinnamon, drying, oaky, leather, cubans, raw onions, grassy, rhubarb. I might dread it, but I'll add some water to this. With added water it turns more nutty, almonds, pecan nuts, gorgonzola, leather, oak. It totally changes, and might for the better for those that looks for a challenging complexity, but if you just want a good, clean and fun sherry monster don't add any water to this.

Great sherry although it seems much younger than 32yo: 8.5


Balmenach-Glenlivet 12yo 1981-1993 62.6% Cadenhead's

I'm ending it all with the two youngest whiskies in this session. This being one year older than the next, you might guess which bottler I'm talking about. It smells burnt, grainy, herbal, heather, peppery, honey, sweet chili sauce, waxy. I'm quite surprised with these whiskies showing absolutely no off-notes except some spirity ones that one might would expect from 60%+ spirits. The taste is sweet, thick, syrup, vanilla, strawberries, ginger, caramel, it's really a dessert all on its own. I must let you know that I'm a bit of a sweet-tooth, so if you're into the more earthy and bitter flavors of a whisky this might not be the one for you. But for me it's exceptional. Not that the sweetness does it all, but its very full and thick, coating one might say, as well.

Great bourbonized scotch: 9


Balmenach 11yo 1982-1993 65.9% James MacArthur's

Another crazy strength youngster from JMcA. With the 1981 in mind, and this one being distilled only one year later I cannot help getting some expectations. Many spectators and commentators does a lot to prove their objectivism, I don't think its possible to be objective as long as you've tried whiskies from the same distillery before. But on the other hand, there is quite a difference between being biased and being open to surprises. The color is white wine. It smells strong, gorgonzola and roquefort cheese, peppery, tabasco, extremely strong, I wonder why... The taste is sweet, honey and vanilla, caramel, creamy, cinnamon, butterscotch, amazing sweet and creamy, luxurious one might say. With water it becomes sweeter and more sumptious, thick, onions, peppery, vanilla in the aftertaste. I love it.

Thick, sweet and creamy: 9



Next tasting: Braes of Glenlivet/Braeval Distillery