Balvenie Tun 1401 Batch 9

This is batch #9

sample from a friend

Nose: Ah, refreshing and rich. Mentholated honey. Sweet, and also strongly (and strangely?) herbal. Mint, sage, and thyme. Whiffs of vanilla and caster sugar, then a wave of light tropical fruits. Papaya, guava, and everything nice. Calming oak comes through, very gracefully aged, it would seem. Sweet wood. Sweet lemon zest (just a little), and chamomile tea blend. Lovely and rich. (with water) This baby is a swimmer! A few drops and it's like Michael Phelps. Everything is bigger, more vivid, more aromatic, and more more.

Palate: Thick, sweet, and rich. Then there is plenty of oak, extremely well balanced. Ginger, acacia honey, bags of lemon zest (sweet), and pith. In the very depths, the sherried character emerges, strawberries, rhubard, raspberries, and jammy lingonberries. Maybe even a vodka based fruit filling. (with water) Water pulls out more of the oak and bitter, waxy pith. Still, rather excellent, and a hint of mirabelles, all things I love. Hooray for excellent whisky!

Finish: Thin honey, sticky and waxy fruit oils and zest. Pith and bitter oak. Even then, there's still the herbal quality. An excellent dram, and a hair better on the nose with water.

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