Balvenie Tun 1401 Batch #5 50.1% NV

Professionele reviews

Serge Valentin (91)

This time it’s a vatting of five sherry and four bourbon casks (update, it's the other way 'round), the oldest being a venerable 1966 and the youngest a 1991.

Colour: amber. Nose: oh well, this is very intriguing, it starts on notes of dark trappist beer (I had a Westmalle the other day that was smelling a bit like this Balvenie). That means ‘good’ caramel, cereals, a lot of malt and then more chocolate and heavy honey (chestnut and such). Superbly unusual. After that, more ‘classic’ dried fruits including plums and raisins. Very interesting… With water: stunning beehivy notes.

Mouth (neat): firm and smooth at the same time, fruity and rounded, very sexy. I’d swear the old cask had a lot too say, even if it was probably quite woody (which may have become an asset to the vatting while that might have been ‘too much’ for a single cask). Bags of sultanas, barrows of ripe apricots and lorries of plums and oranges plus touches of cinnamon, dark chocolate and honeydew. Dangerously drinkable, even when neat. With water: almost extraordinary, I’m a fan. This series was a masterstroke.

Finish: not the longest but I love glazed chestnuts and there are millions in there.

Comments: I’m not sure I don’t like this one even better than the previous batches

Whisky Notes (91)

Nose: lots of beehive notes. It’s deeply honeyed and also shows beeswax and polished oak. Great start. Then the expected oranges and yellow plums. Fresh, bright sherry notes. Some almonds and vanilla syrup. Milk chocolate. Quite some cinnamon.

Mouth: silky and rounded, fruity with more punch than expected. Oranges and lemons. Cinnamon again, soft pepper and liquorice too. Plum jam and honey. Raisins. Fades on citrus zest and caramelized nuts.
Finish: medium long, citrusy, spicy and malty, with a slightly tangy oakiness in the end.

This is another excellent piece of blending supremacy. It really takes the best of both the sherry casks and bourbon casks.

BOW (91)

The Scotch Whisky Masters (The Spirits Business) 2013 - Master - Speyside Single Malt Special Edition

International Wine & Spirit Competition 2013 - Silver Outstanding - Scotch Single Malt - Speyside