Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Years Review

Country: Scotland

Brand: The Balvenie Double Wood

Type: Single Malt Whisky

Region: Speyside

Age: 12 Years

Alcohol: 43%

Tasting Date: 21/08/2011 + 06/07/2012 + 15/02/2013

Colour: Bright Gold

Nose: Pleasant and interesting. Sweet Sherry, Oak, Malt, Bread/Pastry, Vanilla, Fruit (Plums, Oranges, Bananas). A hint of Peat Smoke right at the beginning. Speyside, no doubt about that.

Palate: The delivery is rich and slightly hot but the taste is not extremely complicated. Some spice (Ginger, Pepper, Nutmeg), Oak, Buttered Biscuits, Sweet Sherry, Dried Fruits (Think of Apricot), Honey and a bit of Malt.

Finish: The rather short finish is warm and Spicy and not too dry. Vanilla, Malt and a touch of Peat. Some Toffee at the end.

Rating: 85 

Nose 22 – Taste 21 – Finish 21 – Overall 21

General Remarks: This is a very pleasant easygoing whisky. The nose is promising and balanced but it is followed by a fairly uncomplicated taste and a finish I would love to be longer. A great aperitif!

I added a teaspoon of water that brought out more Citrus fruit and some Wood in the nose and more Caramel in the taste. But be careful, for more than a few drops of water will kill this whisky. Actually, I would advise you to drink this dram neat.

Drinking Experience Neat: Good/Great

Drinking Experience on the Rocks: Okay

Conclusion: Excellent value for Money. The bottling at 43% is certainly a plus. The double wood formula (10 years in oak barrels and 2 years in Sherry casks) works just fine for me. Very nice bottle by the way. Perfect whisky for newbies.

Jan van den Ende                        August 2011, July 2012 and February 2013