Balvenie Portwood 21 Year

was at the old alma mater this week conducting on campus interviews for work, which was a good excuse to try some new whiskies. Last night, our recruiting team dined at a restaurant with a $100 per person minimum. After ordering food, the waiter informed us that we were still well below our minimum, so I decided to do my part. For the Firm, of course. For my final drink, I went with something that I hoped could serve as dessert whisky to cap off the evening. Age: 21 years Abv: 43% Nose: Surprisingly big for being in a tumbler. It smells like, well, port, accompanied by some rich nutty and dried fruit aromas. (23/25 points) Taste: More port. More nuts. Some oak shows up, as well as what I’ll call Coca Cola. Big and rich, the mouthfeel is fairly thick for something with only a 43% ABV. (45/50 points) Finish: Medium length. Pretty much just a continuation of what came before, with perhaps a little honey as it fades away. (21/25) points) Conclusion: Tastes like desert in a bottle, which is what I was going for. Balvenie did a good job importing port flavors without overpowering the whisky, and the end result is a solid dram that is sweet without being overly so. That being said, this isn’t worth the price. I don’t know how much this particular pour cost, but I’ve seen this for around $200, and you can buy a lot of good whisky for that amount. As such, I’d gladly drink this if offered, but I would not purchase my own bottle. 89/100

On second tasting, this is overrated. More spicy than sweet from the port. The Caribbean 14 is just as good. 91 points.