Balvenie Portwood 21 Year

* Sydney Balvenie whisky tasting night, 26 April 2018. Whisky #4. Nose: The classic Balvenie dusky floral orange and honey nose appears here in a more mellow form. The orange note has almost completely transformed into apricot, peach and stewed plums, and the honey has softened into a velvety curtain. The port presence is restrained and elegant, giving the nose a lift of red grape and cherry aromas. The Balvenie vanilla is also present however this time it’s not vanilla flowers, but more like the smell of warm Portuguese pastéis de nata. Palate: A lush, sweet arrival with plums and berries is balanced by a malty note that saves it from being cloying. In the development there are cherries, raisins, honey, hazelnuts, dark Belgian chocolate and vanilla cream, but all very subdued and soft. Finish: Medium. A fruity chocolate/vanilla dream that fades in the most gentle and gradual manner imaginable. I’m always a little cautious with port or madeira finishes as the result can too often become a grotesque caricature. Sherry is somehow easier to manage and combines well with most distillates (PX can be surprisingly wonderful with heavily peated expressions), but other fortified wines can be a risk. However if there is anyone who can pull it off it’s Balvenie’s David Stewart. The result here is a very fine whisky that is all about velvety-soft subtlety. Seductive sweet fruity notes are layered with just enough complexity to add interest but keep the story straightforward and eminently approachable. The port finish avoids any obvious wine presence and instead contributes fruity notes and a muting of the the oak tannins. This is how port should be used – not as a simple flavouring but as a finishing agent – like giving a final polish with the finest grade of jewellers’ rouge. I enjoyed this whisky a lot but I can understand how other palates might find it too restrained and laid-back, and it is rather expensive. I liked it enough to buy a bottle at the tasting, but I don't think I'll replace it once it's finished. “Very Good” : 85/100 (4 stars)

Tasted at Whiskey Obsession 2018.

Review #11 of 12 from DC Whiskyfest 2018. I was only able to do 12 because I came down with something that afternoon that really messed with my head and stomach. I should have just stayed in the hotel room but I didn’t pay $350 for VIP tickets to sample my pillow! No scores for anything sampled as I don’t think it would be fair. Soft and sweet nose. Strawberry Jolly Ranchers, honey and a light spice. Spices but mild on the palate, oak and weak port notes if any. This was probably the biggest disappointment of the night for me next to the Laphroaig epic fail.

** Disclaimer: This review is what I would consider a “Quick Hit”- meaning I won’t have my usual in-depth notes that I usually like to take. The reason: this sample was poured at Whiskyfest DC on 4/17/18. All of these reviews will not be scored and I am actively looking to try them again at some point to do them more justice. This sample has to slide over into the disappointing column of my Whiskyfest list because I was completely expected to be blown away and I wasn’t. It didn’t seem as complex or as smooth as it should’ve been. The port notes didn’t come through (could’ve been my palate beginning to get fatigued) and it seemed rather harsh for a Balvenie AND 21 years old. I have a bottle of this one sitting here at home so I will be looking to redeem this one because there are just too many great reviews of it for it to be as low as I would’ve scored it based on Whiskyfest alone. Also, boo to the Balvenie reps for being so stingy with the pours. Especially with the 21 being a non-VIP pour. A little over a 1/4oz (maybe) wasn’t worth standing in line for. They also short poured the Peat Week during the VIP hour, but that was a fantastic malt- more to come on that one.

Nose: wine, portwood, grape Palate: so smooth, sour Finish: clean, lasting taste

Very smooth. wonderful flavor. not sure it is worth the price considering the other Scottish whiskys available that are not quite its equal in taste, but are far more afordable.