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

Launched in 2013, Balvenie's Single Barrel offerings are limited editions, with no more than 300 drawn from a single cask, hand-numbered and labelled with the cask number. This release was matured in first-fill bourbon casks for at least 12 years before bottling non-chill filtered.

2014 batch tasted... Perfect clarity in the bright gold appearance. Wavers before attractive scents of apple strudel, poached pear in wine and hints of cinnamon are released. Further exposure subdues the overall intensity but accents mild fruit cake notes, dilute honey and hints of ginger biscuit. The big wood influence and higher ABV delivers more punch than you'd expect from Balvenie with honey, vanilla and barley sugar featuring in a medium to full bodied profile and showing terrific balance through to the vibrant, spicy, subtle charry oak / wafer biscuit fade. Like the superb peated release tasted earlier, this marks a departure from the house style, taking a more heavy handed approach to what is generally a delicate spirit. It will find favour amongst those who generally prefer the bolder Speyside malts, like Benromach or Glenfarclas. Great value while this price holds.47.8% Alc./Vol.

Other reviews... I believe these are all first fill. I doubt different casks will be very different, it's probably all under control. Colour: white wine. Nose: fresh and citric at first, chalky and lemony, with touches of fresh oak (not totally dry) and just cut grass. A little iron too. It's very tight, with growing notes of paraffin and fresh cement, then green apples and a wee menthol/camphor combination. Refreshing altogether. Mouth: really very good. Lemon sherbet, tight grasses, the greenest green apples and the greenest limes, then perhaps mirabelles and damsons, but it'll never get as mellow and rounded as some other casks that I had tried earlier. Finish: long and sweeter, more on jellybeans, then just a lot of grass. Perhaps a little too much sourness in the aftertaste, sour fruits… Comments: it's remarkable that it never got vanilla-driven given that this was first fill. 85 points - whiskyfun.com

An aromatic Scotch with bright honey, pear and floral touches, this single-barrel offering features creamy custard, banana and a touch of cocoa before finishing on a baking spice note. The alcohol presence is considerable; temper it with a good dose of water and consider pairing it with a rich dessert. 91 points (12/1/2013) - wineenthusiast.com