Dastardly-Drams
Balvenie Doublewood 12 Year
Single Malt — Speyside, Scotland
Reviewed
January 2, 2016 (edited November 11, 2016)
Balvenie 12 : Double Wood, a 12 year old single malt scotch whisky hailing from the Speyside region. Had this one from a sampler package. Sampled 1/1/2016 with 1 teaspoon of water in a Glencairn spirits nosing glass.
Aroma - Almond, cereal, oak, very light sherry, hot buttered toast, malt, angostura bitters, orange, cherry cough syrup and salted grapefruit.
Taste - Salty to start, vanilla, bubble gum, HEAVY bourbon influence, flat.
Finishes with a medium linger flavor and burn.
Final score : 2.2 / 5, this whisky is just plain flat and boring and has taken on way too much bourbon character from its time spent in ex-bourbon casks. This, unfortunately seems to mask over whatever complexities the ex-oloroso sherry casks might have given to the spirit. The flavor is more on par with a high quality bourbon. That being said, it doesn't taste bad, but for the price, you would be doing better to buy a high quality bourbon. Will not be buying a full bottle.
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This was my first single malt (or one of the first...can't recall if this or Glenfiddich 12). I loved it back then. I had it recently and now tend to agree with your note...just a bit flat and too bourbon-y.
I had a bottle of this way back when I began my single malt journey, and, although I didn't observe most of your flavors, I did find it over-oaked, boring, and very challenging to drink. I'm decidedly NOT a bourbon profile fan... But I do want to try this again in future with a more developed palate... I've got a feeling it's hiding something...