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The Balvenie
Region: Highlands
District: Speyside
(Dufftown)
The Balvenie Distillery is most unique.
It grows its own barley, still does its own floor maltings,
has its own cooper to maintain the barrels in which its whisky
is matured and has its own coppersmith to take care of its
stills. Balvenie Distillery was founded in 1892 near the ruins
of the fourteenth-century castle by the same name. It is also
located next to the famous Glenfiddich Distillery and, in
fact, shares the same malt supply and water source. That is
where the similarities end, because the whiskies are completely
different in character.
10 year old, Founder's Reserve
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|
| Proof |
86 |
| Color |
Medium golden-dark
straw |
| Nose |
Rich, full with
some fruitiness. Light to medium sweetness and quite mellow,
with some smokiness. |
| Body |
Full |
| Palate |
Smooth, medium-dry,
with some malt and a trace of honey and oak. The sherry
comes through to a slight degree. |
| Finish |
Maintains a medium,
but rich, aftertaste with the light sherry notes persisiting. |
12 year old, Double Wood
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|
| Proof |
86 |
| Color |
Medium gold or
amber |
| Nose |
The sherry comes
through due to the second |
| Body |
Full |
| Palate |
Mellow, rich
and smooth. An interesting complexity that will make you
pay attention to detail as you taste this very unique
malt |
| Finish |
Warming. Long-lasting,
with the complexity still getting one's attention. The
sherry is evident, with a most interesting fullne |
15 year old, Single Barrel, cask #8797
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|
| Proof |
101 |
| Color |
Medium gold |
| Nose |
Mellow, with
noticeably more fullness. Some sweetness and a little
smoke. |
| Body |
Full and rich |
| Palate |
Full, rich flavor.
Very smooth and round. Medium-sweet, with some oak in
evidence. Malty-sweetness comes through, also. |
| Finish |
Long and full. |
21 year old
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|
| Proof |
86 |
| Color |
Golden amber |
| Nose |
Some cereal notes
at first with the hint of port coming through a bit later.
Quite full. |
| Body |
Full and rich |
| Palate |
Full and somewhat
assertive. With some patience, a complexity of flavors
will be forthcoming. Some fruit, slight sweetness and |
| Finish |
Long and lingering.
Somewhat dry with some oak present. |
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