I do love Balvenie selections. But given their price point, I can never really bring myself to purchase a bottle on my own. A very good friend of mine gifted me a bottle of their 16 year French Oak, Pineau Cask finish for my birthday. Although my strong suit isn't fruity Single Malts, I thought I'd give it a go! Quite a fruity nose indeed. Syrup covered plum with some tart grapefruit sit atop gingerbread. It doesn't smell all that sweet and in fact, smells quite spicy and tart. Unique for sure. Sweetness appears on the palate with Honey providing a soft, sweet bed for other tastes to rest on. Together with that honey, there is a citrusy but almost floral quality to the taste... definitely got that grapefruit in there but with what I assume is Geranium? There's also this sweet cinnamon spice that inexplicably reminds me of a Hot Toddy hitting mid taste that sets off a little tongue tingle. Toward the end of the taste, it goes decidedly spicy and drier which brings cinnamon and leather jacket to mind. That spicy tongue tingle lingers for the finish and there is quite an interesting warming character about it. Deep into the finish, that leather jacket fades off. Balvenie selections don't disappoint and although this one was too fruity for my taste, I can appreciate and respect the craftsmanship that's gone into this dram.