Balvenie 12YO Double Wood, 40%

THE REVIEW

A brand that still sits on the lips of so many people, but is it still for all of the right reasons?

Balvenie, in my opinion, has had its modern reputation built on its ease of drinking and an affordable price tag. The first point is certainly questioned in this video as I feel I’ve been disappointed on two separate occasions by batches of this particular product. The second point is that this is now getting to that £50 a bottle price tag in the UK. For that money, so many other approachable and more complex offerings of whisky are available.

This isn’t meant to be a rant at Balvenie, but I think this brand has been in the sliding doors situation in whisky, where some brands have driven into the high value category, whereas others have stayed in the good value area.

I’ve worked in specialist whisky retail for a decade, and since the price increases in the Balvenie range came in, even before, I wasn’t seeing people rush to buy bottles off any of the shelves, top or not. Although Balvenie 21YO remains popular, in the same vein as Glenmorangie Signet, for reasons that go beyond my understanding.

That did turn into a Balvenie rant, didn’t it? Anyway, let me know your views on what is happening with Balvenie. If your opinion mirrors mine, what can they do to get back in the good books? If it doesn’t what do you love about this distillery?