The Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year Old

Well, would you Adam and Eve it? Just a week after saying very nice things about The Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year Old in the opening of my Balvenie 15 Year Old review and who should appear in today's whisky advent calendar window? Note that the UK version of DoubleWood 12 Year Old is bottled at 40% alc. while the US version is bottled at 43% alc. (don't ask me why). Buckle up, here comes one of my favorites.

Behind window #16: The Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year Old, 40% alc., £28/$43

C: Light Copper

N: While the bourbon influence frames the whisky, the sherry is never too far away, ripe cantaloupe melon, honey, and a distinct smokiness

P: Rich and spicy, very round on the palate, toasted oak, lots more honey, vanilla, and dried apricots

F: Moderate with luscious fruits (more ripe cantaloupe and apricots), delicate nuttiness, and Garam Masala at the very end

In conclusion: A terrific entry whisky that gives massive bang for the buck. A potentially decadent dessert whisky paired with orange spice chocolate, coffee, and cigars. Not bad for a 40/43% alc. whisky around £30/$45!

Sincere thanks to Master of Malt's Drinks by the Dram for the sample.

The Balvenie Single Barrel Sherry Cask 15 Year Old

Yesterday was a revelation from a distillery I've avoided as much as humanely possible. Today's dram comes from a distillery I recommend to everyone. At some point, every sherry loving whisky drinker in my life will have been advised to purchase The Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year Old (great price, solid whisky, does exactly what it says on the tin). The "Single Barrel" line was launched in 2014 and puts the focus on a single type of cask rather than bottling a single barrel (though outturns remain small). Here comes the sherry cask at a tremendous bottling strength for an OB.

Behind window #8: The Balvenie Single Barrel Sherry Cask 15 Year Old, 47.8% alc., £62/$93

C: Amber

N: Black tea gives way to pronounced malt, dark raisins, and Kola Kubes

P: Soft entry, warm orange spice and black raspberry jam with bitter chocolate and toasted hazelnuts

F: Long with lingering jamminess and dark chocolate bitterness

In conclusion: What a classy Speyside dram. Beautiful balance of flavors, great texture, and a finish that's so yummy and long it has me reaching for another drink just to go around again and again.

Sincere thanks to Master of Malts' Drinks by the Dram for the sample.