Balvenie 17yo (43%, Sherry Oak, +/-2009)

Seventeen years maturation exclusively in Oloroso sherry casks. And it shows. A pleasing dark color (yes, yes, we all know color isn’t a determination of quality but color is relevant since everybody talks about it, no?) The nose is very sherried and spicy, dried fruit (plums, cherries, raisins) and a big tin of really good Christmas cake. The wood spice and the sherry play off each other delightfully. Who cares if the distillery character is buried beneath the sherry; once in a while it’s fun to go out side the boundaries. The taste is not overly strong but is most definitely sherried and nice again the oak spice notes are there in person wrestling with the sherry. Some really good heftiness in the form of brown sugar muscles in at one point but the sherry and the oak spice are the winners here. A tinge of unlit cured tobacco makes a brief appearance and the very end of the palate some strawberry jam. The finish is mild at first but after a short while the spice, now more dry, takes over however it does not dominate the sherry which has a slightly flinty earthy quality followed by a hint of diesel. The finish is quite long and very good.

Jump up and down and shakes your arms in the air, this is really good. As always whiskies like this are limited editions.

£85

Score 89 points

http://www.thebalvenie.com/