The Balvenie - 29 March 2008 @ 7pm GMT

[woodhill]

G'night David

Join us again soon.

Thanks for your time!

[Ras Mazunga]

PW21: oldest malt I ever had, most expensive bottle I ever paid for myself, first port finished whisky... this better be good...
Definiently an older whisky than what I'm used to. If it wasn't writtin on the bottle I wouldn't figure it out myself maybe, but I notice port.
I'm nosing this dram for a while now, soft on the nose, all B's are but this one the most. I wouldn't recognise this as a whisky in blind tasting.

I have no idea how to describe what I'm tasting now... first sip was a bit rough. Describing whisky is difficult anyway but this one is undescribeble.

Nice to compare this one with the DW12: the oloroso puts a layer over the whisky like the portwood does, nice to notice the differences. Remember I only had bourbon and sherry casks sofar.

[Di Blasi]

Seems like I missed out on a great tasting. My mother just arrived today so we were busy entertaining and just remembered this now. I didn't get the samples yet either, but when I do I'll be sure to taste them and post.

[captbunzo]

Good evening gentlemen,

I am calling in a bit late here as I've just gotten back from my evening events. I have before me to try a Balvenie DoubleWood 12 YO. This is only my 3rd whisky since I have really began the process of appreciating the stuff. Anyhow, here are my thoughts.

First impressions of the nose include the banana that Ganga identified a couple posts back. Quite pleasant indeed. First sip I would describe as quite nice, very smooth. Quite spicy.

[Ras Mazunga]

DiBlasi,
It's not too late to start tasting.
No samples, but what do you have?

[captbunzo]

For my full tasting note now... And btw, I really like this one. Very very nice. I especially love the peppery resonance that it leaves on my toungue. Yumm!

The Balvenie Double Wood 12 Years Old
Brand : The Balvenie Expression : DoubleWood
Nose : bananans, hint of vanilla and then apples after longer Palate : very nice. strong pepper with a bit of nutmeg and/or cinnamin. Finish : exquisite. lingers for quite a while, nice resonence of pepper on the tongue, changes over time Comment : very nice. favourite yet. Colour : Medium Gold Score : 0
Age : 12 Years Old Vintage : 0 ABV : 43% Bottler : -	Type : Single Malt Region : Speyside Water : None Ice : None Glass : Glencairn Notes : lovely, very nice and much appreciated
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

[Willie JJ]

Jonathan, glad you came. Have you a dram?

[Willie JJ]

Interesting note Paul. How do you rate the DW against the HP?

Oh and welcome btw.

[Ras Mazunga]

Ganga rates the DW12 not so woody, Paul rates the woodiness maximum, I wouldn't go that far. Would rate it 4 out of 5 myself.
Who agrees with Ganga and why?

[Willie JJ]

I suppose the problem is that we all interpret flavours in different ways. There's no right and wrong about this, we are using language to describe a sensation and that is entirely subjective.

If Ganga and Paul find it more or less woody then that can simply be that they do not have a common understanding of what 'woody' is. Alternatively it can be that they do not have the same batch of DW and they are simply different. It's impossible to be sure.

Sorry, that's not much help is it?

[woodhill]

Nobody has voted for the Signature?

[Ras Mazunga]

I guess you are right.
Tomorrow I'll ask Ganga if he can give me some examples of woodtastes in whiskies.
Paul is like me an inexperienced taster, Ganga has had some more whiskies I think. He is maybe more used to older bottlings that tend to be more woody.

What about you Willy, how woody is the DW? Compared to the other ones?

[Willie JJ]

Two things here:

Firstly:
J the trouble with polls is they pick winners. I liked the signature. I thought it was a good clean dram and would have no trouble buying it. I just prefer cask strength whisky is all.

Secondly:
Ras, there are devices to help us speak the same language in all walks of life. Fortunately whisky is no different. Whisky magazine have developed their tasting wheel which is extremely useful (but no less subjective than anyone else's approach). If we use it, or at least understand it, it is easier to understand where others are coming from even if we may not entirely agree with its construction.

Anyway its worth a look at:

http://www.whiskymag.com/gfx/nosing/Whiskywheel-Big.jpg

As to my own feelings on the DW, I reckon that the wood influence is starting to make itself felt, but it is far from dominant. I guess I would rate it about 3.

Cheers

[Ras Mazunga]

The wheel is helping me already some time.
As I'm tasting along I'm callibrating my wood senses.

Rating the DW12 4/5 wood is too high indeed. The PW would deserve that, SB15 just under that.
I understand now that 2/5 wood is a very reasonable rating.
Interesting.

[blawder]

I'm drinking a 12 DW, which is generally delicious, but I'm getting a little astringent character which I suspect is the sherry.

Sometimes I find sherry finishes smooth/amazing... sometimes I find them rapacious... Are Jim Murray's comments in his latest Whisky Bible accurate about foul sherries out there?

[Deactivated Member]

Something came up and I couldn't make this after all.

I'll try them out at some point this week and post up some notes too, and read through the whole thread...

[TheTross]

Am annoyed that I only managed to do a quick one-off tasting last night, but I got home later than anticipated and was absolutely shattered. I was really looking forward to this as well :(. Oh well, will post up a few more tasting notes as and when I can over the next couple of days.

[woodhill]

This being the first (afaik) online tasting to be held on Sat. night as opposed to Fri. night, how did the response vary? Was it more or less popular and busy?

[Ras Mazunga]

Butephoto and The Tross, you were being missed. Hope that you show up next time.

Balvenie (re)tasting tonight? Anyone?

[TheTross]

[quote="woodhill"]This being the first (afaik) online tasting to be held on Sat. night as opposed to Fri. night, how did the response vary? Was it more or less popular and busy?[/quote]

As it turns out, I wouldn't have made it on either night thanks to an unusually busy weekend. Looking at the amount of posts though I'd say it was quite popular, on a par with the Highland Park tasting we had last month if I remember, but still being new to these tastings I honestly can't tell how it compared to ones before that.

As for a re-tasting tonight Ras Mazunga, I'm afraid that's a no-go for me as I'm working nights, but I'll get a tasting or two posted tomorrow morning sometime before I go to bed.

[Deactivated Member]

Butephoto and The Tross, you were being missed. Hope that you show up next time.

Balvenie (re)tasting tonight? Anyone?

I could make a couple of tastings tonight, yes. I think I'll do that. Make a weekend thread of it...

[Deactivated Member]

I better get back to the start and get reading...

[Di Blasi]

Jonathan, glad you came. Have you a dram?

Thanks Willie, sorry I didn't stick around. After the excitement of having the family visit, and it got late, we hit the sack. And I don't have any Balvenie sadly, but look forward to tasting them when the delivery arrives.

[blawder]

Butephoto and The Tross, you were being missed. Hope that you show up next time.

Balvenie (re)tasting tonight? Anyone?

I could make a couple of tastings tonight, yes. I think I'll do that. Make a weekend thread of it...

Yes! Let's keep this alive for one more night. I will be back to the house about 9pm EST. Is that going to work for others interested in Balvenie tonight?

[Ras Mazunga]

I'll be there.

[blawder]

<--- what does IWBRNT stand for?

[woodhill]

It Would Be Rude Not To

[Deactivated Member]

24 hours late, but I've just poured a DW.

[Deactivated Member]

Balvenie Double Wood 12
Brand : The Balvenie Expression : DW 12
Nose : Sweet, honey with floral undertones. Palate : Honey, brandy snaps, white wine. Golden Grahams/honeyed cereal. Also a little nutty. Finish : Long, warming and delicious. Light spice. Molasses. Comment : Delicious! Colour : Deep copper. Score : 90
Age : 12 Years Old Vintage : 0 ABV : 40% Bottler : -	Type : Single Malt Region : Speyside Water : - Ice : None Glass : Glencairn Notes : -
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

[Deactivated Member]

Hmm, is there a way to add your name to it instead of 'none' so that you can find your notes again?

[Deactivated Member]

Where'd it go? I tried to respond before.

The miniatures, at least here in CA, do not state either the cask number or the bottle number. Instead, the word "Numbers" is stenciled in red.

My 15yo appears to be unmarked also.

[Ras Mazunga]

Didn't refresh my page...
You started already.

[Deactivated Member]

I'm sitting here trying to do a little bit of work but I have all these miniatures and sample bottles sitting on top of my scanner beside me. I don't rate my chances of getting much work done.

Just poured the Sig 12.

[Ras Mazunga]

-
Brand : The Balvenie Expression : 12 dw
Nose : Oloroso, with fresh wood underneath. Cream with wax/polish.Soft on the nose. Palate : Taste like the colour. Sweet nutty and round in the mouth. Jasmin tea? Finish : Long, like a dessert. Nut and chocolate stay in my mouth Comment : Like it better than before, found the malt overwhelmed by the oloroso, but not anymore. Colour : chestnut/oloroso Score : 83
Age : 12 Years Old Vintage : 0 ABV : 43% Bottler : dist	Type : Single Malt Region : Speyside Water : drops Ice : None Glass : - Notes : -
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

[Deactivated Member]

The Balvenie Signature 12yo Batch 1
Brand : The Balvenie Expression : Signature 12yo Batch 1
Nose : Citrus. Orange. Hint of wood. Palate : Sharp citrus. Tart. then honey and cereals. Finish : Citrus then honey. Long-lasting. Comment : Perhaps a little too citrusy for my tastes, but a lovely dram nonetheless. Colour : Light amber/copper. Score : 85
Age : 12 Years Old Vintage : 0 ABV : 40% Bottler : -	Type : Single Malt Region : Speyside Water : Nope Ice : None Glass : Glencairn Notes : -
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.