The Balvenie - 29 March 2008 @ 7pm GMT

[Willie JJ]

Thanks Ganga. Just trying to catch up with what's been going on. I have poured DW and Signature for comparison.

[mikeymad]

I'm here, I'm here...

I a little bit of recovery mode this morning (noonish)(out here on the left coast of the US)....

I will be joining in soon with the three different casks of 15 SB...

Cheers,

[Willie JJ]

First thing I notice is that the Sig has a cleaner nose than the DW, but this bottling of DW is about 3 years old so not the same as everyone else's I guess. It has an air of struck matches about it that I had never noticed with other bottles (I just opened this one).

[TreacleSponge]

Balvenie 12 yo Signature
Brand : The Balvenie Expression : Batch 001
Nose : Rich and malty. Honey and cream, lovely and more complex than I expected. Palate : Very smooth, malty vanilla, brown bread. Then dried fruit, cinnamon, a little bit floral and sherry. Tiny whisp of smoke. Finish : Long. Gingery spice. Comment : Very lovely. Some christmas spices and a little sherry. I like the DW and I think this one is not as sweet but more interesting. Colour : Tawny Score : 0
Age : 12 Years Old Vintage : 0 ABV : 40% Bottler : -	Type : Single Malt Region : Scotland Water : a bit Ice : nope Glass : Glencairn Notes : -
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

[Willie JJ]

Wow the signature has a wonderful finish. One of those that has you chewing for minutes. Yum.

[Ganga]

It happens Nick. Keep trying.

[David22]

Everyone, I am going to have to bow out for a spell. I will be back later on when the crowds desperse from my hotel lobby pcs! Sorry to depart at such a great time.
David

[Matt2]

Not sure what you've done there

Its great to get an idea of what the sherry casks add when comapred to the Signature.

[Willie JJ]

Bye David

[Matt2]

Look forward to seeing you soon David when you can fight off the crowds...

[TreacleSponge]

See you again David - I bet it's just your turn in the hotel pool! See you soon C57.

[Ganga]

Thanks for the input David. Look forward to seeing what you have to say about the 15 and 21.

[TreacleSponge]

Arkle - it's a bit odd first time you join a tasting, isn't it? What do you think of the DW?

[David22]

Poll? What kind of budget do you think I am on?!

[David22]

spelling error! Pool!

[Ganga]

Anyone ready to move onto the 15?

[Matt2]

Next one

Single Barrel 15 Years Old - Cask 8242
Wow, this is very different again - big bold flavours - blue cheese / stilton on the finish !!! It's strange but I like it.

Ha, beat me Gange

[TreacleSponge]

Yes this is big after the other two. Much bolder and more alcohol on the nose.

[TreacleSponge]

Oh, that's cos it's stronger.

[Willie JJ]

[TASTINGNOTE2=DW 12]Td_ABV=40Td_Age=12Td_BottleNotes=-Td_Bottler=BalvenieTd_Brand=The BalvenieTd_Expression=DoublewoodTd_NoteID=0Td_Region=SpeysideTd_Type=Single MaltTd_Vintage=0Tf_Cereal=2Tf_Feinty=3Tf_Floral=1Tf_Fruity=4Tf_Peaty=1Tf_Sulphury=3Tf_Winey=1Tf_Woody=3Tg_Glass=GlencairnTg_Ice=NoneTg_Water=noTm_MemberID=0Tm_MemberName=NoneTm_PostedDate=0Tn_Colour=Deep AmberTn_Comments=Typical that the bottle I choose tonight is bit dodgy. Shame as I am a fan of this dram normally and its not doing it for me tonight.Tn_Finish=Nevertheless the finish is excellent. Rich and spicy. The wood comes through here.Tn_Nose=Initial struck match is fading in the glass. Newly opened bottle too so it will settle a bit I guess. Definite citrus with honey. Very nice indeed.Tn_Palate=Lots of spice. Orangey, but just getting a hint of the dreaded sulphur with this bottle. Pity, its the first time Ive seen that in a Balvenie.Tn_Score=0[/TASTINGNOTE2]

[Willie JJ]

Aargh! the tasting notes are playing up.

[Matt2]

But even watered down to 40% it is much bigger. Dare I say, it's like the Glenivet 12 and Nadurra / Signature and SB. Do you get any of the blue cheese or is that just me?

[arkle]

Hope Ive done it right this time.

-
Brand : The Balvenie Expression : Signature
Nose : Floral,earthy Palate : earthy,ginger,almond Finish : long.bitter almond,dark chocolate Comment : much less sweet than Double Wood Colour : Amber Score : 0
Age : 12 Years Old Vintage : 0 ABV : 40% Bottler : -	Type : - Region : - Water : none Ice : None Glass : Glencairn Notes : -
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

[Ganga]

15 SB from Three Pack
Brand : The Balvenie Expression : 15 yo Single Barrel
Nose : Vanilla, malt, wee bit estery, just a hint of lemon Palate : Oaky, strong vanillas, hard cheese (Jack?), light citrus, maybe some mild cocoanut Finish : Not as long as DW, mingled spices. Comment : Nice change of pace. Colour : Gold Score : 65
Age : 15 Years Old Vintage : 0 ABV : 47.8% 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]

Ganga, does it say which cask it is from ?

[Ganga]

Drop of water brings the spices right to the fore. Definitive vanilla with cocoanut.

Palate is mellowed but the finish becomes more spicy.

[Matt2]

Arkle, interesting note Earthy, but I think I know what you mean. Couldn't quite put my finger on it!

[TreacleSponge]

Balvenie Single Barrel 15 yo
Brand : The Balvenie Expression : Single Barrel 15yo cask 8949
Nose : Licorice, sweet vanilla, marshmallows, grass. A stronger nose than the previous ones, and much stronger alcohol hits my nose. Palate : Vanilla, malty, oats, marmalade, sharp fruits and sweetness, and then something very savoury. Yes, cheese is in there! Finish : Spicy, peppery heading towards firey. With water, it's peppery but a touch floral too. Comment : More depth than the other two, my favourite so far. I got that blue cheese first time, but lost it with water Colour : Pale gold Score : 0
Age : 15 Years Old Vintage : 0 ABV : 47.8% Bottler : -	Type : Single Malt Region : Scotland Water : yes Ice : nope Glass : Glencairn Notes : -
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

[arkle]

-
Brand : The Balvenie Expression : Single Barrel
Nose : Dried fruits,vanilla,christmas cake,fudge Palate : sweet,honey,faint citrus,almond Finish : bitter almond,vanilla fudge,dark chocolate on the end Comment : much prefer this to signature,more body/complexity Colour : pale Gold Score : 0
Age : 15 Years Old Vintage : 0 ABV : 47.8% Bottler : -	Type : - Region : - Water : none Ice : None Glass : Glencairn Notes : -
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

This feels more complex, I may just try it with a few drops of water to see what happens

-
Brand : - Expression : -
Nose : - Palate : blue cheese Finish : - Comment : Revisited, and has definate blue cheese on palate,after tasting some of the others Colour : - Score : 0
Age : 0 Years Old Vintage : 0 ABV : 0% Bottler : -	Type : - Region : - Water : - Ice : - Glass : - Notes : -
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

[Willie JJ]

Right here the signature then:

Nose: Bright clean and orangey. Less complex than the DW and less of the honey too, but is very malty, fruity and refreshing.

Palate: Wow this dram is really citrussy. But that is beautifully balanced with the malt and honey.

Finish: I love this finish. It's like Mead. The honey comes through really strongly and envelopes your tongue and then just goes on forever. Mmmmm...

This is much more like it. I'm very impressed with this dram. Just what I expect to see in a Balvenie.

[Ganga]

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.

[mikeymad]

Pouring new bottle:

Bal 15yo - Cask 2775 - bottle 262

[arkle]

Matt, bit like a dunnage warehouse type earthy.?

[Willie JJ]

Ok almost caught up with you now. Pouring the 15.

[TreacleSponge]

Yes Arkle, I much prefer this one too. For me the Signature is a bit better than the DW, but the 15 is loads better than either of the 12s.