Balvenie 15 casks

[Tom]

Hi all,

On the last tasting I attended we had some confusion about the Balvenie 15. Apparently most people claim that there have only been 2 or 3 releases of it. Now, being single cask , single distillation and a maximum of 350 bottles each, I find this hard to believe.
So, could anyone who has one or saw one, post the cask number, ABV and possibly vintage year of each 15y old here please?

Thanks in advance, Tom

[Mr Fjeld]

Great to see you back Tom!

My empty bottle says:
Bottling date: 28.10.04
InCask date: 10.07.89
Cask No. : 8435
Botte No. : 224

Hope it helps!

Christian

[Wendy]

Hi Tom:
Here is the information noted on the bottling of my Balvenie 15 year old:

Bottling Date: 23/5/05
In Cask Date: 16/2/90
Cask No.: 3674
Bottle No.: 116
47.8%

It may also be helpful to contact the distillery and ask for an explanation to your question. Aside, I am curious to know if you enjoyed the Balvenie 15 that was shared at your tasting?

Cheers,
Wendy

[Muskrat Portage]

Tom:
Here's the info on my 15 yo Single cask'
Bottling date April 24, 2003
Incask date April 21, 1988
Cask no, 1810
Bottle no. 123
47.8 abv
Sorry I can't supply tasting notes yet as it be still sealed. Musky P.

[jimidrammer]

The 2 I've tried are the '89-'04 & '90-'05, but the Maltmadness.com track record has these listed:

84 Balvenie 15yo 1980/1996 SB (50.4%, OB)
81 Balvenie 15yo 1978/1999 SB (50.4%, OB)
80 Balvenie 15yo 1983/1999 SB (50.4%, OB)
83 Balvenie 15yo 1985/2002 SB (50.5%, OB)
82 Balvenie 15yo 1989/2004 SB (47.8%, OB)


http://www.whiskyfun.com/indexation.html has this one that is different from the rest:

Balvenie 15yo 1988/2003 (47.8%, OB, cask #3971)

So these take it back 10 years and at least 7 different releases.

[bamber]

No idea - welcome back

[karlejnar]

Hi Tom - welcome back.

Here are the details on my bottle - bought last summer in Oddbins, Perth, Scotland:

Bottling Date: 8.4.05
In Cask Date: 11.1.90
Cask No.: 831
Bottle No.: 200
ABV: 47.8%

Taste notes:
Balvenie Single Barrel, 15 yo, 47,8%, D: 11.01.1990, B: 08.04.2005, Bourbon Cask #831, btl. #200
Golden colour. Nose: Malt, fruits, preserved pears, "wash", aniseed. Taste: Fruit. raisin, sweet malt, vanilla fudge. Finish: Middle long and mild. [92]
Lovely fruity taste and a another nice mouthfilling malt

[WestVanDave]

FWIW - I am currently enjoying:

Bottling Date: 31/7/03
In Cask Date: 25/7/88
Cask No.: 3409
Bottle No.: 8
47.8%

and have on hand:

Bottling Date: 20/5/05
In Cask Date: 16/2/90
Cask No.: 3671
Bottle No's.: 169 & 171
47.8%

[Deactivated Member]

Tom - good to see you back.

My bottle reads:
Bottling date: 18/2/05
Incask date: 10/1/90
Cask 277
Bottle 33
ABV: 47.8%

The bees have been visiting the vanilla pods again! Wonderful flavour.

[Tom]

Ok, thank you all very much.

Looks like the confusion is coming from the apparent fact that they bottle the 15Y at the same strength. The 2 or 3 batches they reffered to must be the 3 different strengths 50.4%, 50.5% and the recent 47.8%. The distillery did not reply to my questions, but the malt ambassador from Maxxium is looking into it. It seems unlogical to dilute every cask to the same ABV and still stamp Single Cask on it, but still they do it. Hopefully an answer will come soon.

As to the relative quality of the 15Y old, I personally like the two bottlings I tried, alhough the last one seems a bit more restrained and simple then the previous. Still the 15Y old Balvenie is one of my all time favorite drams suiteble for any occasion at any time. (To answer Wendy's question)

Thank you all for your cooperation, I've been neglecting the forum lately but right now it is whisky high season in Belgium, so i'm a bit whisky-busy.

[Lord_Pfaffin]

Tossed all but the last; Bottling date 23.05.03; In cask date 16.02.90; Cask no. 3672; Bottle no. 116 @ 47.8 abv
The name "Single Barrell" is only a trademark and apparently not a benchmark.
Hope this helps.

[diagonalman]

Hi everyone. I am researching a gift for my grandmother-in-law.

I have been searching for a Mortlach 16 (Speyside) or a Springbank 15-20 (Cambletowne). In my seach, I came across a Balvenie 15 which I think is from Banfshire.

It seems that the original poster enjoys their Balvenie very much. Can someone give me any indication how the Balvenie might compare to the Mortlach or the Springbank and if this would be a worthy gift?

Thanks,
D

[Deactivated Member]

Balvenie is owned by the same family as Glenfiddich, and is in fact in the same complex just outside Dufftown, pretty much in the heart of Speyside. (Not sure if that's in Banffshire or not, but it may well be.) I should think the Balvenie 15 (and Balvenie in general) is quite different from either of the ones you mention. It is noted for honey and orange notes, and is one of my very few favorite malts. Some bottles have reminded me of a creamsicle (orange sherbet and vanilla ice cream). I'm going to buy one this week!