The Balvenie Doublewood 17 Year Single Malt Scotch

VITALS:

- $160

- 86 Proof
- 17 Years

This is one of those bottles that, though inviting it may be, is not one that I had ever really envisioned buying myself. Luckily for me, however, I was gifted one, so I got to give the Balvenie Doublewood 17 Year a go.

It's apparently called "Doublewood" due to its having spent time in two different casks.  It first spent "many years" in traditional whisky casks and is then matured in oak sherry casks. I'm not really sure the amount of time it spent in either type of barrel, though.

The nose is heavy on the sherry influence. It's very fruity in aroma, almost like a sangria, where you get the mix of red wine with fresh orange and apple. However, that aroma is complemented by sweet tobacco leave and vanilla, making for a very complex and very intriguing nose.

As would be expected, on the palate the whisky is smooth as silk--almost TOO easy to drink, as each glass seemed to go down very easily. The traditional maltiness is there, blended nicely with vanilla and walnut, but it quickly gives way to the prominent fruit notes. Though it didn't taste like the sangria I got from the nose, it was almost a mix of raisin and strawberry (perhaps that's hard to imagine, but that's what struck me as I drank this).

There's a mile spice that lingers, along with the vanilla and dark fruit flavors, for a bit on the finish, but unfortunately that's as long as it stayed--only for a bit.  The finish, while sweet and lightly spice and very enjoyable, was also very short. Perhaps this is due to the more watery texture of this whisky, something I didn't necessarily expect given its age.

Interestingly, about halfway through the bottle, the flavors seemed to blend a bit into more of a dark chocolate flavor, which went very well with that strawberry and raisin combo I mentioned. I really enjoyed this slight metamorphosis, and what's more, that chocolate note seemed to linger longer than the other flavors, seeming to last even after the other flavors had dissipated.

All in all, there was a lot going on in this whisky, and, as far as flavor goes, it was all incredible. It had fruity notes balanced well with chocolate and vanilla notes, balanced well with a slight spiciness. My only knock is the low proof and watery texture, but that's a mild complaint considering the wonderful blend of flavor in this bottle.

Grade: A-

Monkey Shoulder Blended Scotch Whisky

Monkey Shoulder has been a blended Scotch mainstay for me for quite some time now, but I finally got around to picking up a bottle for purposes of conducting a review.

I was actually turned onto the stuff by my good friend's father-in-law who fancies himself a Scotch now and then and he absolutely raved about the stuff. But, at that time, it wasn't available in the states.

Now, however, Monkey shoulder can be found in every liquor store, grocery store and convenience store, and at a pretty reasonable price. As I purchased this particular bottle, my local liquor store owner commented at how popular this particular Scotch is.

Monkey Shoulder is a blend of three single malts from the Balvenie, Glenfiddich and Kininvie distilleries. This particular bottle was labeled as bottled from batch 27.

At 40% ABV, this is a very inoffensive and easy to drink Scotch. It has a light nuttiness to it, balanced by a slightly smoky up front flavor. On the finish it is very sweet and buttery, however, and it seemed to get sweeter with every pour.

Monkey Shoulder seems to offer just a little bit of everything I like about Scotch. I like smoky flavor from the peat used in many Scotches, and I definitely appreciate the more savory, earthy, nutty flavor of Scotches as a change-up from the sweet, vanilla flavored bourbons.

Also, much like well-aged Speyside Scotches offered by Glenfiddich, I love the butterscotch coating that I get at the back of my throat a few sips in.  That's the kind of thing that makes me go back for that second (and sometimes third) glass!

Overall, this is not a very complex Scotch, and it is not strong in any one particular flavor profile. That being said, it is incredibly enjoyable on its own, and is the perfect bottle to serve as an introduction to newcomers to Scotch whisky.

Grade: B

The Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year Single Malt Scotch Whisky

The Balvenie DoubleWood is a 12 year old Scotch coming in at 43% abv.  It derives its name from being matured in two different types of oak barrels.  The second part of the maturation is done in sherry casks.

 

Accordingly, this Scotch is not the sherry bomb that other sherry-aged Scotches are, but it certainly doesn't go unnoticed.  In fact, the Sherry is obvious on the nose, along with the distinct aroma of pipe tobacco.

 

On the palate, the sherry flavor dominates, but not exceedingly so.  It is definitely a lighter, fruitier Scotch, with an undertone of oak and walnut to it.  It has a nice citrus balance on the finish that I found to be the most enjoyable part, but dissipated quickly.

 

Interestingly, the sherry notes got stronger the longer this bottle was open. Granted, I very much enjoyed these pours, so the bottle wasn't exactly sitting open on my counter for months.  But, even after a week this whisky blossomed to offer an even greater explosion of flavor up front.

 

While not as complex as other Scotches from The Balvenie, this is a strong 12 year old Scotch.  It's very drinkable and has a lot to offer.  Granted it is a bit pricier than other 12 year olds, but in this case the higher price point is justified.  Quite frankly, I've come to expect no less from The Balvenie.

 

Grade: B

The Balvenie Caribbean Cask 14 Year Single Malt Scotch

Credit goes to my wife for selecting and bringing home this single malt Scotch.  I've always been a fan of rum (I fell in love with Appletons when I visited Jamaica).  So, she thought it only made sense that I might like a Scotch that had been aged in rum barrels.  She couldn't have been more right.

It doesn't come on strong when you first sip it.  However, it quickly fills your mouth with hints of vanilla and cinnamon mixed with undertones of citrus.  The influence of the rum casks provides just enough spice to make you notice it, but not enough that I would consider this a "spicy" Scotch.  It finishes with a strong vanilla sweetness that I didn't entirely expect. 

I couldn't keep this bottle long enough, as I found I couldn't settle for just one glass.  This is a great bottle, and I definitely recommend it to anyone that prefers that mixture of vanilla and spice.  It's also one of those bottles that only gets better after opening.  While the first pour was good, the latter pours were excellent!

This is one of those bottles where I was truly sad when I got to the bottom.

Grade: A-