The Balvenie - 29 March 2008 @ 7pm GMT

[Matt2]

Never smelt a dunnage warehouse, but probably... Dry, woody, earthy, with a hint of mould.

How about the 21 Portwood....

Rich port nose, very appealing. Starts off well, but I think the port maybe gets a bit much on the finish. Although theres a nice rich oaky, almost smokey finish. Showing its age compared to the others.

Sorry Willie

[arkle]

With a few drops of water the single barrel opens up and is quite floral on the finish, I really like this one,it reminds me of an old Glenlivet.

[TreacleSponge]

Just poured the PW - fabulous nose. Will keep sniffing this for a wee while.

[Ganga]

15 SB from Three Pack
Brand : The Balvenie Expression : 15 yo Single Barrel
Nose : Vanilla, cocoanuts, pears?, lemons, cocoa? Palate : Vanilla, cocoanuts, crisp pears Finish : Finish still is not long with cocoa and light spices. Comment : - Colour : Gold Score : 64
Age : 15 Years Old Vintage : 0 ABV : 47.8% 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.

[arkle]

Just going to start the Prtwood, has a slight whiff of beeswax polish I think

[Ganga]

With a few drops of water the single barrel opens up and is quite floral on the finish, I really like this one,it reminds me of an old Glenlivet.

I was drawing a comparison to the Glenlivet as well. Light fruits and cocoanut. Pears really become evident with water. I like this one with several drops of water.

[TreacleSponge]

Welcome back Mr C57.

[Willie JJ]

15 Single Barrel Cask 8242

Nose: I know its unlikely to be the same batch but I get Ganga's Esters. Quite a big hit of Acetone at first. That clears and leaves a mashy smell that has hints of lemon and honey in it.

Palate: Acetone here too. It's not unpleasant. I find it works with the honey which comes on later. There definitely seems to be a sweet to sharply bitter trajectory on this one and it is easy to buy into the strong cheese that Matt and Treacle have found.

Finish: Very drying on the tongue. The bitterness continues to grow.

This is a fascinating dram. It's very complex and has a lot of surprises up its sleeve. Something I could come back to regularly.

[Ganga]

I'm moving along to the Balvenie 21 Portwood.

[Willie JJ]

Hmm. I suppose in the interest of science I should try a drop of water in the 15.

[mikeymad]

Notes are not working for me, going easy way:

Balvenie 15 SB Cask 2775
47.8 15yo Single Barrel

Colour=russet muscat
Nose=over ripe oranges, dried fuits
Palate=Spice mix, cooked apples
Finish=slight dryness, medium finish, oranges return
Comments=Good overall dram will be a good drinker

[arkle]

-
Brand : The Balvenie Expression : Portwood
Nose : Bees Wax,honey,heather Palate : Sweet,salty,a little vegetal,slate blackbords,a hint of parma violet Finish : Long,parma violet increases,hazelnut,pencil sharpenings,faintest hint of burning rubber on death Comment : Wasnt keen to begin with ,but retasting and savouring it has improved. Colour : Deep Gold Score : 0
Age : 21 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.

[mikeymad]

new pour, new bottle

Bal 15 SB cask - 2772 - bottle 59

[Willie JJ]

The water makes the 15 even more strongly floral and grassy. It softens the bitter finish a little and allows the malt and honey to stick around.

Fine, but more interesting straight IMO.

[Ganga]

21 Portwood from Three Pack
Brand : The Balvenie Expression : 21 yo Portwood
Nose : Cereal, raisins, overripe oranges, floral, pears Palate : Orange/raisin compote, sweet maltiness, cinnamon buns, some heather. Finish : Long light finish, cinnamon, heather and raisins interplaying with each other Comment : I must be developing somthing for port finished whiskies. I really like this one now. Colour : Amber Gold Score : 72
Age : 21 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]

Just gone back to the 15 after it has been standing a while, almost acetone, but more ripe pears, drys at the top/back of the mouth with no bitterness. Still cheesey in a good way.

The Portwood seems to lack the interest the others have. Just a port finished speyside... a good one, but maybe nothing new.

[arkle]

I agree Willie, it tends to be over sweet with the water

[Willie JJ]

Mikey it's going to be interesting to see what you find in common between these three casks.

[TreacleSponge]

Balvenie 21 yo Portwood
Brand : The Balvenie Expression : 21 yo Portwood
Nose : Play-doh, sugared almonds, lavender, very fragrant. Again much bolder than the first two. Palate : Oak, creamy toffee, spice, sweet wine. Port is there throughout. Finish : Sweeter and smoother finish than the others. Chocolate, toffee, vanilla and slightly nutty. Something right at the end that I can't identify. Comment : Could play about with this for a bit longer, I feel there should be something else there. Maybe there just isn't. Colour : Auburn Score : 0
Age : 21 Years Old Vintage : 0 ABV : 40% Bottler : -	Type : Single Malt Region : Scotland Water : very tiny drop Ice : nope Glass : Glencairn Notes : -
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

[Willie JJ]

I agree Willie, it tends to be over sweet with the water

I'm glad you agree Arkle. Sometimes I think it is just my lush's instinct for more alcohol.

[Ganga]

Water brings out an all-spice to the nose. Maybe a hint of squash underneath it all.

Palate is like a mulled apple cider with bright oranges over the top. There is some oakiness at the front of the palate.

[mikeymad]

Not too much yet Willie, they were only a couple of casks number different, but they were pretty different beverages right now I like 2775 better than 2772.

Cheers,

[Willie JJ]

Oh, I see, the BBCode is off. Matt is there a way to turn it on?

[arkle]

I agree Treacle, Ive just re tasted the PW and it has a faint taste of Elastoplast strapping, I think thats the port, it goes pretty quickly

[Matt2]

Oh, I see, the BBCode is off. Matt is there a way to turn it on?

Under the posting box there are Options, one of them is Disable BBCode.... the posting gremlins don't like you tonight

Also added a Poll for your favourite of the night, you can vote on the usual forum not the live tasting one.

[mikeymad]

New pour, New Bottle:

Bal 15 SB Cask 1781 - bottle 34

Interesting note - it is a 17yo

Dis 22/01/90
bot 17/05/07

Looks like a 17yo to me.....

Look at your dates guys....

[arkle]

Just revisited the Signature, pronounced raisins on nose and palate now......

[Matt2]

Very strange.....

Bottle No 65
Cask 8242
In Cask 17/05/1990
In Bottle 08/02/2008
Age 15 Years ??

Should be 17, and it can't have any 15 added to it...
Hopefully David will be back to let us know what this is all about

[mikeymad]

Balvenie 15 SB Cask 2772
47.8 15yo Single Barrel

Colour=chestnut
Nose=all spice, cereal, maltyness,
Palate=grapes?, dry fuityness,
Finish=medium to short finish, light spice and dryness
Comments= Not as complex as the 2775 cask. But slightly easier to drink

[Ganga]

21 Portwood from Three Pack
Brand : The Balvenie Expression : 21 yo Portwood
Nose : Oranges and spices, sweet malt, salted nuts, soft caramels, grasses Palate : chocoalte, spices, a little bit of oak, apples Finish : long and spicy Comment : Very nice Colour : Amber Gold Score : 72
Age : 21 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.

[arkle]

Aargh.... son has just knocked over Single Barrel, Im going to have to lick it up!

[mikeymad]

Matt we should add "other" to the pole if someone has another beverage.

Cheers,

[Ganga]

Aargh.... son has just knocked over Single Barrel, Im going to have to lick it up!

Mine are trying to pull a coup and take over my computer usage.

BTW, a glass or the whole bottle?

[TreacleSponge]

Aargh.... son has just knocked over Single Barrel, Im going to have to lick it up!

Maybe you should give him smaller drams, then he wouldn't be staggering about

[arkle]

Re visiting PW in light of 'strawberries' do strawberries and beeswax have the same chemical makeup?, Im disappointed I dont detect them, only beeswax. Are there any chemists here who could enlighten?