Balvenie 21 Year Old PortWood Finish

Extremely light tasting, clean, but hard for me to pick up flavor notes. Not my style of Scotch, but it's a very good one.

3rd July 2016

Best whisky from the best distillery. If it were just cheaper in the states, then I would give it 6 stars...

3rd June 2016

The best single malt. Very very smooth very much palatable no hangover Whisky. Imparts a feeling like butter melting near fire . The Whisky also touches the palate and all the places down to stomach. You may drink a large quantity in sane intervals without feeling nausea or drunk.

3rd June 2016

Palate: sweet, a little bit one dimensional plate, mild peat taste, not the smoothest whisky.
Not my favourite cause mild peat&smoke taste but maybe for you if you prefer mild peat taste.

25th April 2016

Full of flavour, slightly smoky and dangerously smooth. Sublime

7th April 2016

It was good but not as good as most reviews portray. Not much complexity going on. I'm glad I have a bottle but will continue to buy my favorite. ( Belvenie 14 year)

13th March 2016

Nose: Excellent depth, but still lively and lithe. Pear, pineapple, floral, pine, leather.

Palate: Peach, apricot, and melon bright fruit, but with layers of earth tones and a little allspice. BBQ smoke, cedar, mild tobacco. Then underneath it all and leading into the finish are dark, reduced fruit of plum and macerated cherries.

Finish: Sweet finish, but a bit shorter than others and probably the area that is holding me back from a 10 out of 10 rating. I think part of this is the "lower" alcohol content. However, the finish is interesting with brighter cherry and plum showing nicely.

Overall: I really like this offering. It is my favorite of the line and I feel like it is still fundamentally a well made and well aged whisky that has been finished in port wood. The port flavors add depth and character instead of overpowering and simplifying the experience.

28th February 2016

Although a little pricey, it doesn't disappoint. One of my favorites. Great complexity and smooth finish. Wonderful to just sit back, relax, and enjoy a quality scotch. I'm a big fan of Balvenie, and this is by far one of their best scotches. I can't wait to try the 15 year old single barrel sherry cask.

25th December 2015

I bought a bottle of The Balvenie 21 Year Old PortWood many (10 - 15, I think) years ago to save for retirement. I just opened it last week. Wow! Sitting in front of the fireplace, dog at my feet, and enjoying a snifter of it while it snowed outside - hard to beat. Not the in-your-face peat, enjoy-with-a-cigar punch of a Laphroaig; more of a sip-and-enjoy-the-complexity whisky. I'm sure I didn't pay the $200+ it costs these days back when I bought it; I sure wish I would have several more!

12th December 2015

Fabulous

4th December 2015

The Balvenie 21 is by no means a bad malt, but for this price category I'd expect a less slick and 'produced' body and a lasting aftertaste. I feel the single barrel 12yo and 15yo, and the sherry casked 15yo are all superior products to this one.

22nd October 2015

I rate this Single malt as one of the top 5 in my cabinet. My usual is Macallan 18, and my favorite is Macallan rare cask.This is definitely one to share will special friends.This single malt has a very unique fruity flavor that I can't quite describe. A hint of peach maybe. The nose has a acidic caramel scent, wonderful. The finish is good, but faint, nutty vanilla flavor that doesn't linger; begging you to have another taste. This dram is a great alternative to my 18YO Macallan. I will keep a bottle in my cabinet to share with my fellow single malt and cigar crowd.

22nd October 2015

5 Stars

28th July 2015

For my taste this is the finest single malt for the price on the market. It's sufficient to say that it's so good that I share it only with my son and a good friend and scotsman, who also happens to be an Episcopal priest.

22nd July 2015

It's been 15 years since I bought my first bottle of Balvenie Portwood 21, and it remains my favorite of all the single malts. I nursed that bottle for years, but alas, I finally finished it a few years ago. It's very hard to get where I live, and state taxes on liquor sales are substantial, so it's been out of my price range as well. One day, I will spring for another bottle, but until I will savor the memory of a smooth, creamy scotch.

25th June 2015

This the one that I reserve for special occasions and special friends. At least until I try the 40 yo...

21st June 2015

This is by far my favorite scotch. The amazing taste and aroma. it goes down incredibly smooth, with a wonderful finish. I first came across this when it was still $90 a bottle, back then I thought it a steal...I gladly pay the current price.

10th May 2015

I could talk about the taste, finish or balance all day. Quite simply, the best whiskey I have tasted… However, I have not enjoyed anything over 25 years old.

28th April 2015

very yumyum

24th March 2015

Sampled this, and I did enjoy the unique peachy notes on the nose and the lighter mixture of nutty, sweet and floral palate flavors. However, light on the front and a faintly bitter ending seemed a little off for me, as I found the porty, dark chocolate finish, but with a hint of green pine. Admittedly I had no problem finishing the sample! It was certainly enjoyable, and from a tasting standpoint I can appreciate all the finer parts of this Speyside treat that others are liking, but just don't think I'd pay the premium for this bottle.

13th February 2015

I really liked this young adult dram and am looking forward to it tonight. Great raisin sweetness , star anise, smooth nutmeg oak flavor. Compact with a nice finish and subtle vanilla impact. This makes me want to explore the Doublewood next or just buy another bottle of this one.

6th February 2015

This is a wonderful dram and is worthy of its awards and I would predict this one is going to be pulling more awards in the future and is one I will be keeping a eye out for in the Whisky magazine. If you can I would recommend trying to get the duty free one from airports when you are off on your jollies as this is 47% alc and is un chill filtered and has no caramel added so it is more flavoursome and has a bigger personality and it would be wonderful if Master of Malt could get there hands on some, some how. I wouldn't recommend adding water as the flavours are very easely diluted and fizzle out !. I would say it's a well manicured malt and has been well looked after to the point where it was probably checked either daily or weekly waiting for that one opportunity to pounce on it and bottle it before the well aged malt begins to go through its next maturation phase like Ralfy said on his whisky review site Ralfy.com. If you want a good honest and pro view go to that site as he doesn't just talk about the dram its self he actually talks about the science and things they don't put on the whisky container box. Very enlightening and interesting as well as helpful !.

5th December 2014

Wow ! Just wow !. Absaloubtly stunning and amazing, how this malt can evoke such emotions and it''s a honor and a privilege to be able to exsperiance such a dram of this stature and refinement just remember for every year of age on a malt whisky you should leave it stand for a minuit per each year and I wouldent recommend adding a tea spoon of water in this one as there is more aroma and flavour un watered like I said above just leave it stand a min per year and best of all enjoy it with a friend or family member ! Oh and about my previous post below I would of expected a little help MOM but it's just as well I made my mind up with out any help from you !

4th December 2014

I hope it's as good as it said to be !. I'm not a big Balvenie drinker that been said I could not find fault with the ones I had tried and I do like port matured whisky. Could you all recommend what to try before I buy this like below the 15 year old sherry matured or the double wood 17 year old ? I would appreciate if you master of malt could also put a recommendation for me on here ?

29th November 2014

It's definitely a notch above the 17 Doublewood. The refinement is noticeable on both the nose and the palate. Almost no alcohol burn. However it feels rather empty. Impact-wise it's almost like it's already been watered down to 25%, or less. If you add water, it's basically like drinking water. Maybe others will describe that as "subtle" or "delicate". But for this price I'd expect more flavor. I think I've tried all the widely-available Balvenies now and the 15 sherry cask is still my favorite (and I don't usually like sherry).

26th November 2014

David Stewarts rates this as his favourite Bal of the bunch - Outstanding. Worth the money !!

21st November 2014

This is my absolute personal favorite. It's so tasty and smooth. Just an amazing Single Malt!!
Words don't describe.. A must try.
I usually only buy this when celebration is at hand or I'm with the best of friends.

20th November 2014

Had a bottle of this a couple years ago. God is it good.

14th November 2014

What an incredible work of art. I didn't want to drink it as i was worried the palate disappoint the nose. it just got better and better.

and the finish! This is the everlasting gobstopper of Scotch. I didn't want to eat or drink anything else after. i just wanted that taste to linger.

please note i've only started my scotch tasting tour within the past 2 years, but this is an instant favorite.

9th October 2014

I´ve been drinking single malts for 40 years. This whisky is awesome, it cant be much better than this!

25th September 2014

I really love it! It's stunning!!
One of my favourite scotch, it's for ever!
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19th March 2014

I have been drinking single malts for about 5 years. And prior to this, I had splurged on a 375 ml bottle of Macallan 18 (similarly price to Balvenie 21 in my area). A few months back, I treated a friend to a dram for his birthday, which was my first time with the Portwood 21. It's the best Scotch I have tasted. I recommend it. I got a bottle for Christmas, and I am trying really hard to conserve it. I share too much :) The price does make it more special. It is looking like a two bottle max (per year) for me. Don't drink it with food, even if it's an 80 dollar steak. This is best savored with 2 cold stones on a half full stomach. In my opinion, don't even smoke a cigar with it. Definitely savor every sip.

3rd February 2014

No need to say anything else. Seriously expensive in the US at 190-200 dollars a bottle.

29th January 2014

Made a mistake getting a bottle, fortunately not too costly. Should have taken more time in the port cask; not enough character been drawn out of it IMHO. Balvenie is good at producing drams that are easily enjoyable though.

21st November 2013

Tried this on a whim and quickly realized that this was a special dram.

26th October 2013

I tried a dram of this whisky a little while ago, and while I found it enjoyable, it was drier than I would have expected for something aged in port wood, and from Balvenie no less! I like my whiskies with a little sweetness to them, and Balvenie usually gives me that (e.g. both Doublewoods, Single Barrel 15, Caribbean Cask). Nonetheless, it was a solid dram, and my buddy acknowledged it as one of his favorites. Just not my style.

17th October 2013

This stuff is the tits.

9th October 2013

Amazing. Plus a value when you consider some alternatives.

9th October 2013

Amazing! Intoxicating aroma, smooth & flavorful with a slight hint of smoke. The finish goes on and on. One shot, poured neat, with a drop of water, can be sipped, savored and enjoyed for a long time.

28th August 2013

I just tried the 21year Port Wood and would match very few with my cigar.

28th July 2013

One of the finest whiskeys I have ever enjoyed. I acknowledge its not going to appeal to everyone but inhaling the aroma alone is pure ambrosia for me.

8th June 2013

it is very smooth, however for me it lacks depth and complexity - maybe slightly insipid? Enjoyable but will go for something else next time

3rd April 2013

VERY GOOD SCOTCH WISKY

23rd March 2013

An enjoyable, smooth and very easy drink. It just doesn't do an awful lot for me. Not a wealth of flavours and I feel there are a lot better out there for £86

21st March 2013

I couldn't be happier with my purchase.

1st March 2013

Nose: I detect jam, no smoke. Palate: It starts sweet, more of that jam, from the nose. It morphs into something more fiery, warming, spicy. The finish is spicy,and, yes, there is cocoa in that tail. Very good!

15th January 2013

Found the whisky that will carry me through the rest of my days.

1st September 2012

This is a wonderful Scotch. The tasting notes are spot on although the finish also has a nice warm milk note which, thankfully, lingers on your tongue.

10th May 2012

I tried to drink it and I think it's best whisky, very delicious, I hope I can buy more...

5th January 2012

I had a bottle of the 91 portwood and thought I'd upgrade after completing it. I have to say, the jump wasn't dramatic, but this really is an awesome Scotch. If you dont mind splashing out, this will really float your boat.

6th October 2009