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...)
Customer Rating
“The Balvenie Doublewood is one of my favourite whiskies. The sherry influence is discreet and combines really well with the Balvenie style. This is a rich whisky with a beguiling nose that would be my top recommendation for anyone wishing to get into single malts. But this is not merely an 'introductory' or 'value for money' malt, I think it's great regardless of the cost. The best 12 year-old whisky around in my opinion.”
Master of Malt Customer
Nice “average” whisky to drink and share with friends. Could be so much more if it was unchillfiltered, and therefore leaves the experience limited. I suspect added colouring too. Better value whisky out there which give better experience for the consumer.
Like visiting The Dome. Part of Christmas.
Those nights are drawing in. Back on the gravy. Right, 4.5 doesn’t say it’s the best. But for the money it fits right in as a session whisky. Call me a philistine but if you like a ‘few’ it’s spot on. Smooth, lingers as long as the price reflects, and well balanced.
My favourite Speyside. It’s true it will convert non-Whisky drinkers
Excellent, a favorite of mine for many years.
