Balvenie 12 Year Old Double Wood

U¿ytkownik "Jim" napisa³:

If there is a single justification for the craze of wood finishing out there, it definitely is Balvenie 12YO DoubleWood. In most cases, it seems to me, the wood-finished whiskies are just long forgotten casks incidentally discovered in the distillery warehouses, that the owners hastily pour into fancy "finish" casks, hoping for them to become drinkable again, while brainwashing us the drinkers with the "special, careful selection of casks, controlled maturation periods" blurb. Balvenie DoubleWood is one of the few notable exceptions. It is delicate and smooth, with layers upon layers of flavours developing on your palate. The sherry-whisky interaction is subtle, whisky is not overriden by the sherry, the Balvenie provenance is still is easily detectible. Overall - a delicious whisky to savour and contemplate. By the way, Balvenie 12yo DoubleWood was one of the first widely marketed wood finish whiskies, setting the standard for its followers.

Cheers, Rajmund

Several years ago, when Johanna still contributed here, she "introduced" me to Double Wood. It's wonderful and I enjoy a bottle often. It's a special malt.

chuck

Many thanks - that's a lovely description and it sounds like it's the sort of whisky I enjoy.

I take it you're not a fan of such whiskies as the various finishes produced by Edradour? Or have I misunderstood?

Jim

Two votes in favour then :-)

Many thanks - I'll have to see about getting a bottle.

Jim

Yes, it is a magnificent malt. Very smooth and sophisticated.

Uzytkownik "Jim" napisal:

Provided you are familiar with Speyside-type, delicate whiskies, and do not expect it to be as assertive as the Laphroaig you chose. Otherwise, you might be in for an unpleasant surprise...

I'm a fan of good whiskies. If they truly benefit from extra maturation, then it's fine by me. I don't object to the idea of wood finishing as such. However, as with any trend, you tend to get mediocre stuff "wood-finished" because otherwise it would be undrinkable altogether. The memory of the likes of Imperial Private Collection Calvados Finish from Gordon & MacPhail immediately comes to mind. Or virtually any of that "Private Collection" line... I prefer solid Glenmorangie 18yo to any of their wood finishes - as it is good stuff in itself. If Glen Moray didn't "mellow" their whiskies in chenin blanc or whatever casks, they would probably have to sell all their spirit to blenders. Aberlour 15yo Double Cask Matured is best used to wash your windows. The list could go on and on. In most cases, the problem is not with the finishing, but with the original whiskies in the first place, IMO. It is simply stuff hardly anyone would drink otherwise. If, however, good quality whisky's flavour is added to, enriched by extra months of maturation in another cask, another dimension added, I don't see why not do it. Balvenie 12yo DoubleWood is a perfect example of this. So is Balvenie 17yo IslayCask. Bowmore Claret is another example. And Bowmore Voyage.

Cheers, Rajmund

We bought some - also from Tesco - last week, and I think it's wonderful. I'm afraid that's the limit of my whisky describing ability.

This week we've bought a Glenfiddich Caoran Reserve as it looked interesting and was on special offer. Has anyone tried that? I think it might get opened this evening.

Glenfiddich 12YO Caoran Reserve is a whisky which actually benefits from the wood finishing IMO. The otherwise dull Glenfiddich gets this extra Islay-like kick, becomes very lively and more than one-dimensional. It's a far cry from the already mentioned Balvenie IslayCask (incidentally, manufactured several yards away, under the same owners, matured in much the same conditions), but it's an interesting experience. It is rather rough at the edges, as if the Islay whisky in whose casks it was finished were very young, still - a dram worth trying. Enjoy. Oh, and mind you - it is still only a Glenfiddich... ;-)

Cheers, Rajmund

I'm very fond of that one - it's fast becoming my favourite 'supermarket' whisky. It's very warming, pretty smooth and not too overwhelming- I think you'll like it. I'd class it as mid-range on the peaty scale, if you see what I mean...

Jim

It's got some interesting complexity, I enjoyed my bottle. Not too expensive; worth the price.

Dave Hinz

...and the Darkest?

-- Larry

I confess I'm rather partial to both Darkest and Dawn.

Jim

Uzytkownik "pltrgyst" napisal:

Bowmore Darkest is a damn fine dram, but I'm afraid technically it does not qualify as a "wood finish". It is matured in sherry casks from day one.

Cheers, Rajmund

Seems like Darkest was a love it or hate it dram. I liked it, and still count 'Voyage' as one of my all time favorites. I have a bottle of the Balvenie 17 Islay, but have yet to open it.

To the OP - I don't think you could go wrong with the Laphroiag QC, so hopefully you aren't regretting your decision.

Good Lord no :-) I've only had a sample dram of the QC but it's an interesting contrast to the standard 10yo.

Jim

"Rajmund" skrev i melding news:dkkpv7$d9e$ snipped-for-privacy@atlantis.news.tpi.pl...

The way marketing as a profession present itself to us every day in every other setting, it wouldn't surprise me a bit if your'e right.

I had a "finished" whisky a few weeks ago though, whith wich the opposite seemed to have happened: A Chieftain's Caol Ila 12 yo Medoc Finish. I only had a 5cl, so maybe I'm a bit hasty with my judgement. But actually thats the only way it comes - as 5cl miniatures! Anyway, it was nothing wrong with the quality of the Caol Ila as such as far as I could detect, but in my opinion the vinous "finish" just didn't fit in at all. Tasted like I can imagine it would if someone spilled redvine in my standard Caol Ila 12.

Gunnar

Now there's a visual I just didn't need.

ObTopic: The Balvenie 12 yo DW is my standby for guests that appreciate subtly. Laophraig is for those that I'm rushing out the door.

The Ranger

I love Laphroaig, so that wouldn't be a great tactic with me :-)

Jim

"The Ranger" skrev i melding news: snipped-for-privacy@corp.supernews.com...

I didn't realize I could offend somebody with that. Still can't. But I'm sorry if I did!

Gunnar