This is the first Balvenie I’ve purchased in a long time, and while I usually find them a bit overpriced, it was tough to say no to the first fill sherry cask bottling I found at my local. I don’t think I’ve ever seen another scotch this dark and that’s very enticing.
Balvenie 15 Single Barrel Sherry Cask #8998 Bottle #642, 47.8%
Nose: Dried candied fruits, plum, apricot, Swedish fish, maraschino cherries, malt, a hint of ethanol but not much.
Palate: Dark fruits as it hits the tongue, spicy, bright, cinnamon candy, honeyed Balvenie malt, thin mouthfeel at first but seems to thicken up shortly after, packs a surprising punch at its proof without being overly hot.
Finish: Long and dry, more sherry, rich with a mild sweetness, lingers with a fruity cinnamon spice .
Rating: 85/100 – Excellent | Really quite exceptional
This is pretty much everything I wanted it to be. A well aged, fruity sherry bomb at a reasonable ABV is a real treat that you don’t find often without really shelling out. It’s not cask strength but still manages to deliver a powerful, full-bodied Balvenie experience. I paid $105 for this whisky and honestly think that’s a fair price. I’m very happy with the first fill bottle I found but might consider picking up one of the refill cask bottlings for comparison’s sake.