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...)
Not bad but not great either, if you can find it on offer from the supermarkets for around £25 worth spending the money on it otherwise I can think of a few different whisky's I would prefer for the similar price range.
I keep buying DoubleWood as gifts for my friends since they love it so much and I have yet to add it to my personal inventory. The next bottle I purchase will be for myself! Although I'm sure I'll partake in this most recent gift purchase one evening with my local friend. I'm really looking forward to trying it out. I give it a 10 based on how dedicated my friends are to the DoubleWood variety.
I don't know what everyone else thinks; I don't care! But what I think is this: the Balvennie Double Wood's nose is very oaky; deep and soft, then the taste is mulled whiskey; mellowed maturity (kindness with substance) the finish is medium as one would expect for the price: mild, but long and gentle, yet no bitter taste or sour notes. I rate this whiskey as excellent for its price, and one of my favourites given its cost! The bottle is like a true whiskey with no pretenciousness. This is a nice whiskey; good for newcomers as it is full of depth from the oak and full of flavour from the sherry; it is a gentle, honest and a kind whiskey! I don't care who you are or whether or you think MasterofMalt have posted this; this is a post from a true customer and I hope you enjoy the whiskey as I have!
Me and one of my best friends opened a bottle of this wonderful Doublewood and literally finshed the bottle without even notice it!!! The sweetness and the lovely vanilla taste, hypnotised us. (From Portugal... Sorry for my English...)
Title says it all.
