Balvenie Pedro Ximénez Cask 18 Year

The Balvenie Pedro Ximenez Cask 18-year-old is matured in American oak and finished for an undisclosed amount of time in PX sherry butts. It is bottled at 48.7% ABV. It is a travel retail exclusive that I bought crossing into Canada from Buffalo last year for $280 CAN (about $200 US). This was a nice surprise. A modern sherried whisky that is not a poor life decision is uncommon; and a Balvenie that is not $500 or more that I enjoy is rare. I still prefer a Balvenie TUN at $500 than this bottle, but the real novelty is that this is a travel retail exclusive that is not garbage and is better than the core range. This is a far more engaging whisky than the 17-year-old Double Wood or the 21-year-old Port Wood, but it is still just as approachable for the non-enthusiast. Like most Balvenies, anyone who can tolerate drinking a whisky neat will be able to tolerate drinking this whisky neat. The PX finish does its job on the nose; there is so much raisin goodness! Raisins, caramel fudge, orange zest, and cacao powder. This smells like it belongs on a sundae. Things fall apart on the palate as the brilliant sherry character on the nose struggles to remain prominent. You still get pleasant creamy, honeyed, sweet and spicy 18-year-old Balvenie, but you can tell that this could’ve used more exposure to the PX butt. This whisky recovers somewhat on the finish, as the raisins and oranges come back, and the lingering aftertaste is quite satisfying, worthy of a few post-swallow lipsmacks.

Fruity and inviting, first notes are vanilla, prune and fig, cashew/walnut, soft oak, hints of hay and leather, then reverting back to some prune sweetness. the finish is short to medium length, and exceptionally smooth for 48% the finish is riddles with salted caramel, mild cinnamon and walnut.

Sherry-forward. Definetely you can identify the PX character at the nose. Smells of raisins, prunes, dried fruit, nuts, and some acetone. On the first taste it brings sweetness, a licorish follow-up, then comes the apricot, a litle bit of toffee, and caramel. The finish is long, oily, full bodied. Spices like cloves and nutmeg arrive. Keeps going for a while, not too bitter aftertaste. This one is not hot at all, considering its 48% plus AVB. Great addition to the Balvenie lineup. A little expensive too: I bought this one for $220 at London Heathrow. Worth it? I believe so, specially if you are a Balvenie fan like me.

A better version of the old 17 Year double wood. Has the classic honey, peaches, vanilla, coconuts, almonds, and flowers of classic balvenies with the PX finish adding a layer of dark fruits, chocolate, and berries. Nose: Raisins, Honey, Canteloupes, Dark Chocolate, Roses, Vanilla, Hazlenuts, Mocha, Almonds, Peaches, Raspberries Palate: Raisins, Prunes, Honey, Dates, Milk Chocolate, Lavender, Morello Cherries, Blackberries, Cinnamon, Coconuts, Almonds, Nutmeg, Violets, White Chocolate, Roses, Grapefruit, Grilled Pineapples Finish: Prunes, Mocha, Nutmeg, Christmas Cakes, Raisins, Ginger, Blood Oranges, Grapefruit, Roses, White Peaches, Lavender