Balvenie 15yr Single Barrel - A Straight, Raw Malt

[jwise]

The following are my tasting notes from sampling a bottle of The Balvenie 15yr Single Barrel, Cask #4628:



On the nose, aromas of sweet vanilla, honey, and ripe fruits come out alongside the rawness of the malt. The aromas foreshadow this to be a great whisky, and I'm glad to say it doesn't disappoint!

The first taste that hits the tongue is the peppery goodness. It tingles the mouth, and fills the cheeks with flavor. This is not a whisky that has been blended into obscurity, or mixed into mediocrity. This whisky is poured from a Single Barrel, yielding 350 bottles of uniqueness. The 15yr Single Barrel offering from The Balvenie is a superb example of what a whisky can be.

The finish is pretty long, with just a bit of citrus on the end (which I could do without). The pepper comes back (did it really ever leave?)

The body is a solid medium, really filling the mouth.

This is a whisky that every scotch-lover could get behind. Whatever your particular tastes, this whisky can bring something that sets it apart, and pleases the palate. Whether your whisky cabinet is small or large, this bottling can bring a uniqueness that would be welcome to all!

I'm happy to report that the Balvenie 15yr Single Barrel did very well in a recent Whiskey Goldmine double-blind taste test (See The Balvenie 15 Year Crushes Competition). The results of this test were discussed on this forum HERE. Additionally, the whisky was selected by my sister-in-law (whisky novice) as a superb whisky, along with the 21yr and 14yr Caribbean Cask from Balvenie. So, whether you have a palate that is brand new to whisky, or are a judge in a whisky tasting competition, the Balvenie 15yr is sure to please!