Balvenie Doublewood 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

It's been over a decade since we've revisited the Balvenie range. From the 12 Year Old, right up to the venerable 30 year old expression, the house style emerges as one of the lightest and most delicate to be found from Speyside with almost no peat evident. 'Doublewood' gains its character from maturation in two woods, transferred from traditional x-Bourbon American oak to a Sherry oak casks for its final maturation. It's sometimes described as the classic, "essential" expression in Balvenie’s core range. From a 30ml sample, the nose is lifted with vanilla, dilute honey and dried fruits. The entry is featherweight, unfolding into a medium-weight dram with moderate flavours of dried fruit and a warm mouthfeel. An aftertaste of dried grass and drying oak sustains a little prickle. All up, this is uncomplicated and typical of the distillery style, but even at 12 years old, Doublewood still tastes surprisingly young. 40% Alc./Vol.

Other reviews... The whisky has not much changed in recent years. As noted in 2022, the whisky leans heavily on the bourbon barrel, offering a nose with lots of sweet almond and banana notes, backed up by fresh cereal and granary characteristics. That said, it’s less overtly woody than I recall, coming across instead as rather grassy and hay-like. Citrusy sherry notes are present, but as more of an afterimage. On the palate, again the whisky favors the bourbon influence, with ample vanilla dominating flavors of sweet breakfast cereal, namely Frosted Flakes. It’s extremely mild and approachable, though things can get a little leathery on the back end before the orange-driven sherry character finally appears. It’s mild and gently spicy, and nothing if not harmless. While not the most memorable whisky on the market, I expect you’ll finish your dram just fine. - drinkhacker.com