Balvenie A Collection of Curious Casks American Bourbon Barrel 14 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Other reviews... Balvenie is also one of those brands increasingly using unusual casks for finishing, but firstly, we've always held the utmost respect for Balvenie, and secondly, they were among the pioneers with their renowned ‘Doublewood’, ‘Islay Cask’, and ‘Portwood’. So, we can hardly accuse them of just jumping on the bandwagon. Well, of course, an ex-bourbon barrel could hardly qualify as a ‘curious cask,’ and I do hope it never will, but it seems the good folk at Balvenie have detected some unusual smoky notes here. I suspect that might have come from the previous contents of the barrel. Colour: white wine. Nose: it’s absolutely beautiful, reminiscent of a top-tier Chenin Blanc (Savennières, perhaps?) with a touch of gunflint. Honeysuckle, white currants, pink grapefruit, chalk, and a few hints of soot and saltpetre, followed by very restrained vanilla. The balance is superb. For now, the smoke is more of the ‘flinty’ variety. Mouth: wonderful lemony tension, with more flint and chalk, perhaps even a suggestion of cigarette ash (brings to mind the days when one might smoke outdoors in a strong wind), then green apple and indeed a whisper of lapsang souchong tea, though perhaps only half of a small cup, the kind they sometimes use in China. Finish: the classic Balvenie markers come through—quince and mirabelle plums—then a touch of acacia honey, but overall it stays delightfully taut, with a hint of salinity in the aftertaste. Comments: very good indeed. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. 87 points - whiskyfun.com