Balvenie DoubleWood is, to not much surprise, aged in two kinds of oak casks! It was firstly matured in refill American oak casks before it was treated to a finish in first fill European oak Oloroso sherry butts for an additional nine months. The expression was launched in 1993, and has become a somewhat iconic whisky over the years. Even at 12 years old, this rich and complex dram is an excellent example of what the Balvenie distillery can craft.
Gristy, supple nuttiness intertwined with spices. Honeyed sultanas and grapes. Hugely inviting.
Sweet with good body. The bourbon characters develop; gentle spice with a little vanilla, a hint of balancing peat lurking quietly in the substrata. Dried fruit too, combining with nuts, nutmeg, cinnamon, back into the bourbon notes - so well integrated.
Spicy, slightly drying, still sweet.
A classic, always a pleasure to revisit. (This is also a single malt with the ability to convert a non-whisky drinker with its deliciousness...)
I've avoided Scotch for years, preferring bourbon, but Balvenie 12 year Doublewood won me over. Smooth and delightful; enjoyable on a fall evening in Maine when the grandchildren have gone home or they are asleep and it's just the misses and me.
If you have a real sweet tooth you might like Balvenie Doublewood. For me this whiskey falls below the minimum acceptable quality for a single malt. AVOID.
This is my summer single malt of choice - Laphroaig is far too heavy for the hotter months, and I tried this whisky on a whim, and I'm glad I did. Absolutely delicious, and very clean on the finish.
One of the best. Sultanas and blackcurrants with a bit of honey. Bold sweetness on the nose but more complex to taste. A hint of smoke to finish. Fantastic if you like dark fruity flavours like myself.
Like other two or three star reviews I was disappointed. Really over hyped dram. RRP in Sydney is $109. Overall its only slightly more complex than Glenmorangie 10 or the Aberour 12 but $25 more expensive. Too sweet, too much vanilla and honey. If you are willing to pay this price for a Speyside something like Oban 14 offers so much more. Will not buy again.
