The Balvenie - 29 March 2008 @ 7pm GMT

[Sherried Malt]

See everybody after dinner. Let's hope the restaurant can get everyone's order out quickly since we're going out so unfashionably early!

[woodhill]

I've arrived.

Cheated slightly as I started last night with the FR so I'll be leaving that tonight.
Here is my line up for this evening.

12 Signature
15 Cask 11395 bot.16.02.06 dis 23.07.90 Bottle No 16.
1991 Port Wood
21 yo Port wood.

Nick you have nearly tempted me to open my Rum wood and Roasted Malt, luckily they are in my 2year olds room and I don't want to wake her up.

[Ganga]

Enjoy your evening with the Mrs. Dinner too.

[Ganga]

Woodhill, good to see you.

[Willie JJ]

Welcome Woodhill

And David of course.

[TreacleSponge]

C'mon Treacle am I really that much older than you? It's bubblegum.

Sorry Willie, my parents said I'd get buck teeth if I blew gum, so I've had a very sheltered childhood The only bubble gum I know is Hubba Bubba and those hard ones at the bottom of Screwballs, never heard of your Bazooka Joe.

[woodhill]

My nose is not what it should be - can I move to have these tastings at 9am when its at it's best.


12 is yummy but it's still a shame they are taking away the FR.
more refined then the DW. oily?

[Willie JJ]

Interesting! I thought everyone would get that. It was the bubblegum with the wee comic strip in it. American stuff isn't it guys?

[Willie JJ]

[quote="woodhill"]My nose is not what it should be - can I move to have these tastings at 9am when its at it's best.[/quote]

J my nose isn't what it should be either, but the time of day has nothing to do with it. I suspect genetics:-)

[Ganga]

Interesting! I thought everyone would get that. It was the bubblegum with the wee comic strip in it. American stuff isn't it guys?

I believe it is a US thing. I always grew up with it as Bazooka Bubblegum.

[Willie JJ]

Is it only Nick and myself that don't have the BBCode?

I notice (not that this matters) that it is not counting posts either. Hmm.

[David22]

I have to admit that my desert island Malt is PortWood 21. As has been said previously, this one could be enjoyed at ANY TIME!

[Willie JJ]

It's definitely a fine dram David, but for desert island excitement I would take the 15 Single Barrel just for unpredictability.

By the way did you see our earlier discussion about the age of the SB?

[TreacleSponge]

That's me done, I'm off on my way.

Still undecided between whether I like 15 or 21 best. 15 was so bold and different after the 12s, but I also liked the wineyness of the 21. I'll just have to try them another time to decide

Enjoy the rest of your tasting.

[woodhill]

The 15 is truly superb.

It would be nice however if they gave the barrel details.

is anyone on here doing the 17yo range (not of the 15's :-))

[Ganga]

Since two of us notice a similarity between HP 12 and Balvenie 12 DW, I thought I would pour them side by side in small brandy glasses.

[David22]

BARREL DETAILS SHOULD BE ON THE LABEL. WHAT OTHER DETAUILS HAVE YOU IN MIND?

[woodhill]

Im now moving on to the '91 PW which from memory Ive enjoyed more the 21. Now Matt has kindly sent me a sample I can finally revisit this!

[Ganga]

Goodnight TS. Great to have had you here for the tasting.

[Ras Mazunga]

I agree, on this moment I think the 15 is the best.

[Willie JJ]

Now that sounds like fun Ganga. i'm off to get the HP

[woodhill]

[quote="David22"]BARREL DETAILS SHOULD BE ON THE LABEL. WHAT OTHER DETAUILS HAVE YOU IN MIND?[/quote]


Hi David - thanks for doing this here tonight!

I'm thinking Sherry or bourbon, first or second fill hogshead barel etc.

Now someone will come on and say I should be able to work it out:-) Sorry.

[Ras Mazunga]

My label is misprinted, can't read the barrel details, somebody else can?
Talking about a sample of course.

[David22]

SINGLE BARREL - NEARLY ALWAYS SECOND FILL USA BARRELS. HAVE NOT USED EUROPEAN CASKS SO FAR.

[Willie JJ]

Ah, searching for info on your Q Woody and have found the answer to one that came up earlier about the age of the 15 SB. On the side of the label it says 'Matured at the Balvenie Distillery for at least 15 years'. So could be older then.

[woodhill]

Going H2H with the 2 PW's now and what a difference in the nose.

The 21 is so much more powerful.
I suppose the '91 is only Extra Matured in Port casks?
is the 21 wholly matured in Port?

[David22]

ABSOLUTELY - COULD BE OLDER THAN 15. A BARGAIN! ANYONE REMEMBER SINGLE BARREL 25?! YUM!

[Ganga]

Nosing DW and HP 12

The DW is sweeter and maltier. The HP 12 has more of a rich orange and smoke in the nose. HP 12 also has a tangerine besides the orange.

Palate DW and HP 12

HP 12 has more of an orange flavor a definitely smoke. The DW has a sweeter malt flavor and lighter oranges. DW also has a cocoa note in there that I didn't find in the HP 12.

Vatting of Remnants

I actually like this better than either. The sweeter nature of the DW comes through brilliantly while that touch of smoke from the HP 12 adds kind of a base note to the mixture.

[Willie JJ]

[quote="Collector57"][quote="Willie JJ"]Is it only Nick and myself that don't have the BBCode?

I notice (not that this matters) that it is not counting posts either. Hmm.[/quote]
Oddly, Willie, BBCode seems to be ON for me in the live tasting topic, but not in the normal topic :?[/quote]

Seems to be the reverse for me Nick. Good grief!

[Willie JJ]

Ganga don't you think there is a little element of solvent in the nose of Balvenie that doesn't appear in the HP? It's not a bad thing. Just different.

[David22]

BOTH PORTWOODS ARE FINISHES ONLY. WHAT WE DONT WANT IS A PORT FLAVOURED BALVENIE! THE USUAL FINISH PERIOD IS BETWEEN 4 TO 6 MONTHS AFTER THE MAIN FULL PERIOD OF MATURATION IN TRADITIONAL CASKS.

[woodhill]

The influence is a lot stronger on the older than.

Perhaps as the '91 still had so much of its own character?

how old is the '91 btw?

[Willie JJ]

[quote="Ras Mazunga"]My label is misprinted, can't read the barrel details, somebody else can?
Talking about a sample of course.[/quote]

Sorry Ras I missed that. As far as I can see the SB is Cask 8242, Distilled 17/5/90, bottled 8/2/08. My label is missing the top of the figures, but that's what it looks like. It makes it a 17yo.

[David22]

13 YRS OLD I SEEMS TO RECALL.

[Ganga]

Ganga don't you think there is a little element of solvent in the nose of Balvenie that doesn't appear in the HP? It's not a bad thing. Just different.

I think I'd describe it as more estery than the HP.

Wait, there it is with bananas.