Sometimes in life having those uncomplicated family dinners are the best. Granted it’s great when one of the charismatic family members show up with some epic stories and a plethora of jokes that just makes the night lots of fun, but it’s never a great family dinner when the dramatic attention seekers show up with their never ending insight to the latest and greatest conspiracy theory and how all family members must acknowledge their superior intellect. The pendulum swings both ways in many aspects and so does whisky drinking. That’s where the Balvenie 14 year Caribbean cask comes in to shine its best, in an uncomplicated version that is enjoyable. The nose is loaded with tropical fruits, pineapple, banana or maybe plantain, toasted coconut, mango, others have said papaya and I get that as well, golden raisins, then it leads towards a cinnamon apple pie, candied ginger and cedar wood spices. Going in for a taste reveals a viscous mouthfeel that has medium oak tannins, banana, golden raisin, cinnamon apple pie, candied ginger, and toasted coconut. The finish is medium length with the same notes as the taste but with a bit of a chili pepper numbing that isn’t overpowering then finishes of those tropical fruits. Overall this is that quiet family member that comes along to dinner, is just enough personality to tell a few jokes, provide different takes on an argument with good insight but never confrontational about their opinion that makes the night an enjoyable one, but not quite an epic night. That’s part of the fun of life and whisky drinking though, if we had nothing but epic stories and bottles, those would then become just ordinary and if we had nothing but dramatic attention seekers and punchy rocket fuel fire bottles, we’d probably decide to skip dinners and drinking all together. Balvenie 14 year Caribbean cask is the perfect middle ground to enjoy but not be thrilled nor overwhelmed. It’s even a perfect one for family dinners to bring as I brought the bottle to my in-laws house and my wife’s mom and sister, who aren’t whisky fans, really enjoyed it to the point we drank 70% of the bottle that night to help endure the dramatic attention seeker and their “wisdom bombs” that were dropped that night. Thanks Balvenie, you may be my savior for family dinners from now on.