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...)
Good value, good whisky
Yet to find another whisky as good. Smooth and sweet but with just enough bite. Everytime I have a dram I find something new in the flavours, happily complex.
Tried Aberlough to compare it to Balvenie 12, the price was very good but there just wasn't the "bite" that Balvenie has.. Balvenie is hard to beat for the price..
I've yet to find anything in this price range that is even half as good. Wonderful with a pice of ice, or drop of water. I perfer a clean finish, and shy away from alot of smoke.
Found that "when drank straight or with just a drip or two of water was noticeably strong ......bourbon aging side" that he was talking about to my liking!!!, Like Dalwhinnie 15 but a little less of a prickly feel and more toffee/vanilla thing going on as well- Didn't notice any "peat lurking"- not that I minded.
