Balvenie 17 year old Doublewood Whisky

I have not had a glass of Balvenie in ages. The last time I had any Balvenie in my glass was when we did the Balvenie Golden Cask vs Caribbean Cask comparison, and the bottles were empty after that tasting. I looked at my whisky collection for something new to drink and saw the Balvenie 17 year old DoubleWood single malt Scotch whisky, so I grabbed it and am glad I did.

The first ever Balvenie I tried was the DoubleWood 12 year old, and I have found it to be a bit of a hit and miss. I have had an amazing bottle, and the bottle after that was just blah. Since then, I have tasted numerous Balvenie releases.

Balvenie is a Speyside distillery, part of the William Grant portfolio, together with Glenfiddich and Kininvie distillery.

Like its younger sibling, the Balvenie DoubleWood 17 year old single malt is matured in ex-bourbon casks before finishing in ex-Sherry Casks. The DoubleWood 12 year old was released in 1993 and was so popular that they added the DoubleWood 17 year old whisky to the portfolio in 2012. Sadly, Balvenie discontinued the DoubleWood 17 year old in 2021.

Other releases in the Balvenie range include the Caribbean Cask as well as the Balvenie Roasted Malt and the Balvenie Peated Cask whisky.

The Balvenie 17 year old Doublewood Whisky Review

REGION: Speyside

ABV: 43%

COLOUR: Old gold

NOSE: On the nose, this whisky is a pleasure to experience. It combines oak, nuts, vanilla, red fruits, and delicate orange blossom. The subtle hint of cinnamon sugar adds a touch of sweetness, while citrus notes provide a refreshing zing. After standing a bit, there is a tropical note in the background.

PALATE: The oak and fruits from the nose continue on the palate with bits of tart red apple and creamy grain. Cinnamon, cloves and vanilla mix with wood, dried fruit and almonds and are balanced with a toffee sweetness. The DoubleWood single malt has a medium body and is quite oily. Water takes away the sweetness and some of the complexity. It is better without water.

FINISH: The finish is medium long with notes of toffee sweetness, lingering creamy vanilla and a drying woody oakiness. Somewhere in the background is a milk chocolate note that makes me want to explore this dram again.

RATING: EXCELLENT

The combination between the fruity sweetness and the oak spices is well-balanced, contributing to a satisfying and well-rounded drinking experience. It is elegant and delicious. After 17 years in wood, I expected a bit more body on the Balvenie. However, the medium body makes it easy to drink.

If you see a bottle of this Balvenie Doublewood 17 year old Scotch whisky floating around, do yourself a favour and grab it. It is an enjoyable whisky experience you will be sorry to have missed.

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