Balvenie DoubleWood 17 Year

Nose, rich, full, Honey, light stone fruit, sweet, vanilla, apple, rich, slight spice, very low proof, just enough to get a medicinal almost cherry cough syrup slight lingering taste,

Balvenie stopped producing (or releasing) this whisky a couple of years ago, and when I heard the news I scooped up a couple of remaining bottles around town. Because of the scarcity, I don't drink this too often. My last tasting note was August 27, 2002. The "DoubleWood" nomenclature refers to the fact that this whisky is aged in both whisky and sherry oak casks. Clear darker burnt orange color. Very pleasant nose showing apple, golden raisins, dates, vanilla extract, pomander, and honey is followed by a welcoming, gentle spiciness (43% ABV), lingering sweetness, some length with a touch of char on the back end. What I'd initially noted on my review in August 2022 as a "monochromatic flavor profile" now strikes me instead as restrained, belieing the dark brown canister emblazoned with the gold all-caps "DoubleWood." While it is an easy whisky to drink, patience is rewarded. More enjoyable than my last tasting; 4.0 on the Distiller scale. As always, tasted neat in a Glencairn glass.