The Balvenie produces only unpeated whiskys (an exception is an annual special edition), unfortunately in this case chill-filtered and, alas, with added colors: a warm amber color, therefore, completely fake. The smell is immediately sweet and caramelized, very enveloping, with cooked apple, rivers of vanilla, brown sugar (oh well, there is rum, easy!), white chocolate. It does not give you diabetes just smelling it, but it is nice and cuddly. The risk of dismantling is also averted on the palate, with a splash of spices and wood that stops the sugary wave of flavors before it overwhelms everything, bringing a certain dryness to the background. At moments almost vinous, chocolate returns accompanied by candied orange, yellow fruit, still cane, raisins: the influence of rum is not as clear-cut as you might think (or maybe it's that I do not understand a fife of rum, in fact). The finish is medium long, dry (almost astringent), with spices, vanilla, raisins and cooked apple.