Balvenie 14yo (47.5%, OB, Golden Cask, +/-2010)

Part of the maturation was in ex Caribbean rum casks. On the nose there’s pear, bring cherries and tinned fruit cocktail; lots of sweet syrupy notes. Lots of rich fruit and sweet notes however there’s still some good wood notes in the back ground; it’s all a luscious collection of aromas. Some small ‘green’ notes in the back ground and light Christmas cake (not the dark version). The taste is also very sweet however there is some really good malt intertwined with the sweetness; not sure where the run is but who cares? This is really very nice. A small amount of unlit cured Virginia tobacco gives the sweetness a really keen edge. The finish is a little less sweet but it’s still there and then suddenly; pow! Lashings of malt and some rally great oak spice and dryness. It’s very long and very pleasing, warming too.

What a grand dram.

£62 at the Whisky Exchange

Score 89 points