Balvenie 14 Year Caribbean Cask (Re-Review)

Review by: TOModera

And so we come to the end of the mystery drams from my Secret Santa, muaddib99. Thanks again.

It’s been a stressful few weeks, mostly due to work, and an excess of drinking due to weddings, bachelor parties, my birthday, and well, work stress. I’m happy to say that going into Xmas I’ll be cutting back some and just enjoying water.

Try to get back to two a week.

Not to mention take a break from swaps until after May. Need to give all those shipping companies a break. Anyway, onto the last clue for Dram #4

4: As I mentioned, you’ve posted a lot of reviews…. and you’ve got quite a few from this Speyside distillery already… however you’ve not yet reviewed this one and I think you’ll enjoy it!

Hmmm… I do enjoy a good Speyside. Doesn’t really narrow it down though, because from the look of it, I’ve done a bunch from Aberlour, Balcenie, BenRiach, Glenfarclas, Glenlivet, and Macallan. This is going to be hard!

Distillery: Balvenie Distillery.

Bottler: Distillery Bottling.

Region: Speyside.

ABV: 43%.

Age: 14 years.

Cask type: Rum Cask Finish.

Price: N/A.

Color: Light gold.

Nose: Lemon pudding, apple juice, jujubes, fennel, caramel, nectarines

Very light nose. Reminds me of a dram that I (oddly enough) didn’t review one time. Has a very sweet nose to it. Not cask strength, but not too low on Abv. I’m guessing finished in a Sauternes cask maybe?

Taste: Lemon milkshake, jujubes, apple, mace, lemongrass

Yeah, this is a Sauternes cask. Or at least, I think it is. Could be an Ice Wine cask from Austria for all I know.

Again, sweet, mostly just sweet with some spices. The thick lemon flavour is like blowing a lemonade stand (just let that image mellow in your head).

Really thick mouthfeel too. If it wasn’t mostly sweet lemon flavour, I’d be really impressed.

Finish: Light smoke, pepper, lemon sorbet, cream, pear

Takes awhile to break apart more than just smoke/pepper notes, as the finish is shorter than Vern Troyer at an NBA game.

I’m pretty sure I’ve had this before, just haven’t reviewed it… hmmm.

Conclusion: So I’d guess this is 46%, finished in Sauternes casks. Other than that, I’m pretty lost. Does BenRiach make a Sauternes finish? It reminds me of a BenRiach with some of the smoke.

On the other hand, I’m pretty sure this is Glenmorangie Nectar D’Or. I had it a few years ago in a bar, and it tasted really similar. However it’s a Highland, so that can’t be it.

Final Score: 73.

Guess: BenRiach 16 Year Old Sauternes Finish

Actually: Balvenie 14 Caribbean Cask

Scoring Legend:

  • 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky.
  • 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category.
  • 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram.
  • 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff.
  • 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting.
  • 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better.
  • 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink.
  • 50-59: Save it for mixing.
  • 0-49: Blech.

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