Balvenie Single Barrel 12 Year

In the glencairn, the whisky is pale gold, like midwinter sunlight. The newly uncorked whisky's first and most obvious aroma is that of unripe, green banana. Further in, I discern hard cider, fresh pineapple, light vanilla, and desert lime. The palate reminds me of a Gose; and like the beer, this single malt tastes salty and yeasty, while its maltiness is sour. More patience reveals sage, banana cream, and lemon poppyseed bread. The midpalate is toasty and malty, and the finish is wonderfully salty, warming, and elevating. The aftertaste adds to the panoply of flavors hints of espresso and cinnamon. This dram has an astonishing complexity and is one I'm so glad to have the whole bottle to enjoy. Also, Kory and I often wait to open new bottles till we're together, and we never share notes till we feel comfortable with our initial judgments. We both put 'unripe banana' as the first note for this one. So contra the naysayers, no, beverage tasting isn't just subjective nonsense.

Very smooth, and everyday must have with a hint of apple