Originally this post was part of my Balvenie Golden Cask tasting notes, but it is such a fun and delicious side by side comparison, I decided it warranted a post of its own; Balvenie Golden Cask vs Caribbean Cask whisky. Both these Balvenie releases were finished in rum casks.
The Caribbean Cask release is part of the Balvenie core range, and the Golden Cask was travel retail special. Let’s look at the Balvenie Golden Cask vs Caribbean Cask single malt Scotch whisky comparison.
The Golden Cask has been finished in Caribbean Rum barrels and the Caribbean Cask in barrels that previously held Malt Master David Stewart’s personal blend of select West Indian rum.
I have both these expressions in my collection, so after capturing my tasting notes for the Golden Cask, I got out the Caribbean Cask whisky to do a bit of a comparison. For me, a side-by-side comparison is a valuable learning experience that shows the different sides of each dram.
Balvenie launched the Caribbean Cask 14 yo whisky to mark the 50th anniversary of David Stewart joining the Balvenie distillery. It is part of the Balvenie core range.
The Balvenie Caribbean Cask Speyside single malt whisky has been matured in traditional oak casks for 14 years. Afterwards, they finished it in casks that previously held Malt Master David Stewart’s blend of select West Indian rum.
The Balvenie Golden Cask whisky was initially bottled for the travel retail market. The Golden Cask single malt Scotch whisky was first matured in traditional oak casks and then finished in casks that formerly held golden Caribbean rum.
It was crafted by Balvenie’s David Stewart, and it has been discontinued.
| Balvenie Golden Cask | Balvenie Caribbean Cask | |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 14 yo | 14 yo |
| ABV | 47.5% | 43% |
| Cask Finish | Caribbean rum | David Stewart’s blend of select West Indian rum |
| Colour | Light wheat gold | Golden wheat |
| Nose | Heaps of fruits, florals with butterscotch and fudge and vanilla. Fields of summer flowers with hints of cinnamon spice and hints of chocolate coated fruits and oak. | Ripe mango, pineapple and guava, toffee, Christmas cake and plump rum-soaked raisins. Hints of florals and malt intermingling with oak. Fudge and lashings of spices. |
| Palate | The fruity sweetness promised on the nose is not so pronounced, and there are more spicy notes on the palate. The Golden Cask is refined and luxurious. It is fresh and light with pineapple, tropical fruit. | Mango and spicy notes, creamy caramel toffee, vanilla, oak, tipsy tart and ginger. Chewy and spicy. |
| Finish | Big and bold with sweetness and cinnamon that lingers | Softer with notes of pectin and pepper |
| Rating | Excellent | Excellent |
| Comments | More refined and floral with an amazing finish. | Chewy and delicious, but with a few sharp pepper notes. |
| Pairs well with | Dark chocolate and tropical fruit | Softer cheese such as camembert |
Side by side, it is amazing how different these two releases are.
The Balvenie Golden Cask has a higher ABV and is slightly lighter than the Caribbean Cask release. Both releases have tropical rum notes, but they are more pronounced on the Golden Cask.
The Balvenie Golden Cask single malt has a floral note mixed with pineapples and oak. It also has notes of cinnamon and tropical fruit. The Balvenie Caribbean Cask has more mango, raisins, vanilla, and fudge. It has a spicier finish with more pepper and ginger notes.
Both are excellent and delicious, a testament to Balvenie’s Master Distillers’ skill and quality. If I have to choose a favourite, it will be the Balvenie Golden Cask whisky. The Golden Cask is more refined and less spicy than the Caribbean Cask. It is my favourite of these two bottles.
Both my bottles are nearly finished. I will be sad to see the Golden Cask empty; it was a delicious and unique dram. The Caribbean Cask is readily available, and when the bottle is empty, I will replace it.
I have also done a side by side comparison between the Caribbean Cask and the Balvenie Doublewood.
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if its true that carribean cask has been discontinued, that will be a damn shame