The Balvenie - 29 March 2008 @ 7pm GMT

[Matt2]

Welcome to The Balvenie Live Forum Tasting.

The Whiskies

• The Balvenie Double Wood 12 Years Old
• The Balvenie Signature 12 Years Old
• The Balvenie Single Barrel 15 Years Old
• The Balvenie Portwood 21 Years Old

Date and Time

• Saturday 29th March 7:00pm GMT

Special guest
David Mair - The Balvenie Global Brand Ambassador

Handy Links

• The Balvenie Tastings from Whisky Magazine
• The Balvenie Website
• Live Tasting Page

Start time - 7:00pm GMT

For those of you who do not know what these are about, they run for generally 12+ hours and we all sit down (at various times) to taste a range of whiskies and share our notes and comments on the forum. Have a look in the Live Tasting forum for past events.

They are a great way to meet people on the forum, chat about your experiences and learn something new about the whiskies you have, and we all end up having a good time.

Please feel free to join in and post any comments or tasting notes you have. Tasting notes can be added using the Tasting Note tab on the postings page. Click here to visit the Live Tastings Page.

[Matt2]

Good evening everyone (anyone?), I guess it would be an idea to work through the whiskies in the order above, but feel free to jump in with anything you have. If your tasting notes don't work I will be fixing them as I go.....

David is going to try and connect from a hotel lobby in Lisbon, so I hope to see him here at sometime.

[David22]

Hi Matt - I have made it in! However, hotel lobby pcs are busy all the time, so here I am in downtown Lisbon in an intertnet cafe. However, I can only be on line for an hour at the moment. I will try to rejoin later tonight too.
David

[Ganga]

Eight minutes to 12 here on the Pacific. I'm good to go.

[David22]

Hi Ganga - thanks for joining in. I have to admit I dont have whisky with me here in this net cafe. However, do you have a DoubleWood at hand?
David

[Matt2]

Hi Matt - I have made it in! However, hotel lobby pcs are busy all the time, so here I am in downtown Lisbon in an intertnet cafe. However, I can only be on line for an hour at the moment. I will try to rejoin later tonight too.
David

Hi David, great to see you here! Better get things going then, pouring a Double Wood to start with. Any interesting facts you can give us about it?

Don't wait for me Gange

[TreacleSponge]

Good evening all

[arkle]

hi all, Im ready to go, nice to meet up with you, this is my first time.

[Ganga]

Pouring the DW into two glasses.

[TreacleSponge]

Hi Arkle

OK, I'm cracking on, DW to start then... Just the one glass? Or should I wait to see what Ganga's trick is?

[David22]

DoubleWood has a really rich nose to it and is so incredibly consistent thanks to our Malt Master David Stewart! The richness is quite fruity I think, no doubt coming from the 6/7 month finish in these Oloroso casks.

[Matt2]

The Balvenie Double Wood 12 Years Old
Brand : The Balvenie Expression : Double Wood 12 Years Old
Nose : Sugary oranges, sherry Palate : Smooth and very balanced, sits in the mouth nicely. Sweet honeyed notes.. Finish : Spices come through, a bit of pepper Comment : Very drinkable, and tastes older than it is... Colour : - Score : 0
Age : 12 Years Old Vintage : 0 ABV : 40% Bottler : -	Type : Single Malt Region : Scotland Water : None Ice : None Glass : Glencairn Notes : -
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

[TreacleSponge]

Hi David. Has Matt dragged you in here from your holidays?

[Ganga]

I have the DW in a glencairn glass and a small brandy glass.

Hi Arkle, TS.

[David22]

No, I am in Portugal on business!

[David22]

I think the glass used makes a fair difference to the aroma concentration. If water added, then the smell intensifies into a beautiful toffee sweetness - almost toffee apple. Of course, this aroma intensifies over say a ten minute period, then the smeel lessens - assuming water has been added. If not, then it will take longer to go through the aroma change

[TreacleSponge]

Balvenie Double Wood 12 yo
Brand : The Balvenie Expression : DoubleWood 12 years old
Nose : Sherry, creme caramel. Sweet apples Palate : Honey, oranges, sherry and I think a wisp of smoke. Finish : Winey then spicey. Comment : I like this. Sweet and warming. Colour : Auburn Score : 0
Age : 12 Years Old Vintage : 0 ABV : 40% Bottler : -	Type : Single Malt Region : Scotland Water : tiny bit Ice : nope Glass : Glencairn Notes : -
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

[TreacleSponge]

I hardly used any water. Just added a wee bit more after those notes and it's not as good now.

Matt, where on that wheel would I mark it up for pepper/spicey notes?

[Ganga]

DoubleWood from Three Pack
Brand : The Balvenie Expression : 12 yo Doublewood
Nose : citrus over cereals, sweetness, some hints of honey and maybe vanilla Palate : Malty with strong influence of oranges, some spiciness to it Finish : Very nice orangy cinnamony finish. Comment : I really enjoy this whisky, anytime of day. Colour : medium to dark gold Score : 0
Age : 12 Years Old Vintage : 0 ABV : 43% Bottler : Original Bottling	Type : Single Malt Region : Speyside Water : Not now Ice : No Glass : Glencairn Notes : -
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

[Matt2]

Yes, it doesn't take much water to loose it...

The pepper actually comes under Wood / New Wood - but I'm not 100% sure that the wheel hasn't fallen off

[Ras Mazunga]

Good evening,
It took me all afternoon to get a Balvenie 10, so I start with it. Never had it before and I like it already.
DW is waiting.
Where can I find the tasting note sheet?

[David22]

Whn a splash of water is added the DoubleWood changes to something sweet and toffee like, then after about ten minutes or so, that sweetness begins to fade - drink it quick!

[Ganga]

I'm switching over to the brandy glass now.

You know, there is a reason I really like the DW. In part, I get a slightly different view of it each time. However, its only small details changing so I feel like it is an old friend.

[David22]

The Balvenie 10 (Founders Reserve) has good honey notes, slight vanilla notes and good allround spicey tang.

[Ganga]

DoubleWood from Three Pack
Brand : The Balvenie Expression : Doublewood
Nose : Bit o' Honey, light oranges, malty sugars Palate : Honey coated cereals, a little bit of nuts, light spices Finish : More of a honey and malt finish here. Comment : Very nice presentation in this glass Colour : medium to dark gold Score : 0
Age : 12 Years Old Vintage : 0 ABV : 43% Bottler : Original Bottling	Type : Single Malt Region : Speyside Water : Not now Ice : No Glass : Sm Brandy Glass Notes : -
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

[TreacleSponge]

Oh yeh, I see it now, thanks Matt. I use the WM colour chart for describing colour, and I know my monitor rocks in terms of displaying colours, but my laptop is a bit, well, meh. What's the chances of WM producing it with the wheel as cover-gifts for their favourite subscribers?

[Ganga]

Added a drop of water to the brandy glass.

Nose is spicier, less of the honey.

Palate has more of a toffee feel to it.

[Matt2]

Ok, I've moved onto the Signature 12 to see how it compares with the DW 12. And it is very gentle and subtle. Slightly maltier with a very light sweetness. Finish has something I can't describe, but its nice...

Very interesting.

[Ganga]

Whn a splash of water is added the DoubleWood changes to something sweet and toffee like, then after about ten minutes or so, that sweetness begins to fade - drink it quick!

You don't need to encourage me twice with this one.

[David22]

How does everyone feel with the aftertaste - long lasting? Overall, I agree that the DW smells and tastes older than 12 years.

[Ganga]

No Signature 12. I'll drink water to catch up...from last night.

[Willie JJ]

Evening folks. Sorry I'm late.

[Ganga]

I find the finish to be quite long when I have a fresh palate. I really like the lingering spiciness that I get. If the palate is not so fresh, I lose a bit of the long spiciness.

[Ganga]

Good afternoon Willie. Good to see you here.

[Matt2]

How does everyone feel with the aftertaste - long lasting? Overall, I agree that the DW smells and tastes older than 12 years.

I would say long and lingering, you can just sit back and enjoy it for a while before it gently fades. I always have liked this one.