Balvenie Peated Cask, 17 year old, 48.7%

[bleedingwhisky]

Nose: Peat, dried prunes, tar, honey, and vanilla.

Body: Sweetness from liquorice mixed with raw peaty smoke, followed by peppery spice, notes of honey, and vanilla. Bitter tannins near the middle-end, I am guessing from the American new oak casks, I wasn’t sure if I liked that but then I realize it gives a pleasant kind of freshness to the blend separating the different flavors, and breaking through the heavy peat, opening up tasty dried fruit notes towards the finish.

Finish: Long dry ashy finish with sweet notes of honey, liquorice, and spice.

Conclusion: A great peated malt, turns out the smooth and fruity Balvenie can handle the rough peatiness very well. I rather like this unusual mix of honey, vanilla, fruit, liquorice, and ashy peaty smoke. The blenders at Balvenie have somehow managed to keep a smooth and sweet character besides the unusually strong smokiness. I hope they keep up the good work, coming again and again with lovely, unusual, and surprising new wood finishes.

En er is meer te lezen op het blog (Engels): http://www.bleedingwhisky.com/balvenie-peated-cask-17-year-old-48-7/