The Balvenie 15-Year Madeira Cask
43% ABV - Speyside, Scotland
Nose: Berries, fruit wine, citrus, and grape must. Orchard fruit and flower petals. Stretch note is those red Swedish berries.
Taste: Citrus, fruits, white wine, with some spices, soft candies, and honey. Light mouthfeel.
Finish: Sweet fruits, red apple, spices… slightly drying, but remains sweet.
This marks one of the first whiskies that I’ve reviewed where I only purchased a portion of the whole bottle. A group of us purchased the bottle together and split it evenly—six ways! I think that’s a great way to try new things that you can’t find in a pub or bar, and without overcommitting your wallet. The cost worked out to about $6.25 CDN per ounce.
I’ve had almost a dozen of The Balvenie whiskies but most, if not all, have been in the context of a big whisky event and my palate fatigue always prevents me from properly evaluating… or perhaps it’s simply the amount of whisky consumed affects my memory—ha!
I’m glad that I only bought in to ~4 ounces because although it’s a good whisky, the 15-Year Madeira Cask ends up being a little too thin and not the perfect flavour profile for me. That said, it’s entirely enjoyable and this experience is nothing but positive. I look forward to the next bottle split!
(I wanted to end this short review with a comparison to something I know… it’s in the Glenlivet-y range of flavours, but not really at the same time. If you like The Balvenie 12-Year, you would probably really like this one.)
Tasting Notes (Official): Fifteen years of maturation in traditional American Oak whisky barrels impart warming layers of honey and vanilla. Finishing in Madeira Casks increases complexity, bringing notes of fresh peaches, orange zest and hazelnut. The result is an exceptional single malt whisky with the traditional smooth, honeyed character of The Balvenie married with notes of toffee and a hint of fruit, with a warm, lingering finish.
Tasted 25 September 2023. (Posted 23 November 2023.)
