Balvenie Single Barrel 15 Year

We're now starting round 2 of our little sample sharing team here, and one of my offerings is this Balvenie. Of course, when I opened the bottle to share, I poured myself a wee dram as well. Balvenie is one of those that stays pretty straight and narrow in its lane, and won't give you a mind blowing challenge. This is the sweet girl-next-door that you can bring home to mom, and be assured that she won't say anything that'll get her blacklisted. As opposed to an Ardbeg or Lagavulin girl, who will be wild and unpredictable, with highly inappropriate things to say. Tasting notes: honey, lavender, and heather...through and through. This is a rich and elegant. Manuka honey ( Soba...you're a Kiwi...you'll understand), with fragrant lavender, all wrapped around a field of heather. This is the bottle you give as a gift to your in-laws, boss, or anyone you want to impress, but also stay relatively safe from wild flavors. You can't wrong with this, but don't go expecting a whirlwind of challenges. What it does, it does damn well. Girl next door you can bring home to mom.

older bottle paid 90 usd currently not opened. Second bottle found in a dusty licka stow for 100. Third bottle found for 80. Had this at a balvenie raw craft tasting with the late great Anthony Bourdain. It was poured straight from the cask with a .50 cal world war 2 shell casing. One of the best drams of my life next the the sherry cask equivalent which was my next tasting experience in the same day.

A bit more bitter than 12yr. Allow it to settle longer on tongue. Not as sweet as rated.

Paint thinner, vanilla nose. Raisin, dried fruit flavors. I enjoyed but was a bit strong for my tastes. Nice sweet flavors and sherry finish.