Tastes

Very good. There's a lot going on. It's certainly smokey but the woody, grassy, and sweet tones really work their way though this in each sip. Not campfire, not smoked meats, not smoked kippers but actual peat. Hay and bright citrus becomes vanilla pudding and buttery, thick saltiness. The finish is wood and thick fudge. I love me some Islay but this goes down a much different path than the usual sherry influenced offerings. Cannot taste the higher alcohol or the younger age. A definite restock when finished.

Not bad. The nose is better than the taste. Some vanilla and caramel, mild wood. It's a bit hot on the finish that washes it out. There's a fresh wood taste left on the exhale and it lingers.

Just OK. I wanted to taste more of the barely in this , given its schtick. I didn't...I get a somewhat watery tartness with some light nuttiness. There's a more grassy note than cereal, which is again disappointing. The youngness is really apparent: lacking deep flavors, peppery heat, no finish. I hate that it's $60+ a bottle for something that's no more than 6 years old. They couldn't let it sit another few years? Do organic grains not age well? Does age matter? I'd say yes, when it's this young and not a blend of multiple ages. I don't need more than a good 10 or 12 to be super happy with quality. This is worth half it's price - and I've said this same thing about 21+ year old ones too.

Not a huge Balvenie fan. Also not a huge rum fan. Even with those two factors this was surprisingly good. Unfortunately, it still had those undertones of the usual, stock flavors of Balvenie (grape, sweetener, dryness) that I don't care for. The sweetness of this one is more manageable than the 12. It's a much appreciated brown sugar and brown bread depth that separates this from the 12. There are definitely tastes of rum, the vanilla and added spiced warmth, but it's not overpowering and is mostly on the backend. It adds some more pleasant notes to the finish with the obvious tropical tones but also an apple freshness. The thing that makes this just ok to me is the Balvenie. This jumped $15-20 or more a bottle the last year or so and not worth it to me. I completely see the appeal to the many fans of it but will not be buying a bottle myself.

Not complex or flavorful. Most of the action occurs on the back of my tounge. Slight vanilla and some sherry, berry hits but not much. The backend is mild oak and nutty. Overall, not bad but not worth ever having again.

Usually not a flavored whiskey fan but this is good. Not too sweet and not a fake flavoring like many.