Here we have the flagship single malt from Balvenie’s celebrated PortWood range. The 21 Year Old is a marriage of rare Balvenie whiskies, carefully finished in 30-year-old port pipes for added depth and finesse. First released in 1996, it remains a standout example of balance and refinement – offering soft fruit, warming spice and a long, elegant finish. A classic Speyside dram with real pedigree.
Elegant. White peach, honey, sultanta, macadamia, subtle touches of balsamic and cola cubes.
A gentle, subtle palate offering up a mix of cranberries and cooked raspberries, a little white grape juice and barley.
Cocoa, slightly bitter as it tails away gracefully.
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.
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.
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!
Fabulous
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.
