Balvenie 14 Year Old Golden Cask Rum Finish

This malt is getting only harder to find, so this review is mostly for people wondering whether it's worth seeking. I bought this Golden Cask after trying the “mere” Caribbean expression of the same age, figuring "why not move up to 'Golden'"? I was unable to find good comparisons the two, but existing Golden Cask reviews gave me the impression that this would be richer with "rum spices" and somewhat bolder in fruit. Let's see.

Nose: Quite light (as was the Caribbean). I find the aromas develop in the order: Brown sugar/honey, lemon drops, menthol, underripe banana-green pear skins. Maybe unsalted butter and a hint of that aroma found in Juras. Water doesn't do much. Overall, very light with fruits and anesthetically fresh. I'd expected more significant banana richness.

Palate: Overall leafy and woody-- and surprisingly dry. The entrance is grassy: less sugarcane than sap from its leaves. The leaf impression becomes woodier, a little like biting into bitter cinnamon bark. Bitter-sour-minty. It ends not with banana, but more like a banana-tree leaf. Water is needed and helps bring out some honey to balance out the otherwise bitter complexities.

Finish: Woody nutmeg and pine cones. Dry. Water also greatly improves here, bringing some smoothening vanilla and honey sweetness.

So all-in-all, the Golden Cask was a little disappointing for its woody dryness. My rating applies to the addition of water, which greatly improves it by diluting those bitter edges into curious complexities, while also adding vanilla and honey balance. Nevertheless, I would prefer the flavors of the Caribbean Cask, which was equally light but better balanced. However, I am continuing to store the Golden Cask to track its development. See my follow-up in the comments section….

The most similar malt in character is probably Glenmorangie’s Astar. The Balvenie is not as strong, but so far I find it better balanced.

This is the first whisky I have ever bought, and so it seems only fair that I also write my first review about this fine dram.

Nose: At first very simple and light: flowers, dried fruits, vanilla, and even hay. Then a few "darker" aromas kick in: Almonds, raisins, caramel and nutmeg. Finally a whiff of wood. Seems deceptively simple at first, but then grows in complexity. I feel like there's still plenty of aromas, which I haven't identified yet. I could spend hours just exploring the nose of this whisky.

Palate: It lands soft and creamy on the tongue. I immediately feel the "balance" of this whisky. The "fruitiness" is excellently balanced by the alcohol, 47.5%. The fruit and spices dominate at first. Pears, oranges, cinnamon, almonds, and raisins. Then it dries up and you immediately start tasting the wood from the barrel, nice dark chocolate, caramel.

Finish: Long and balanced. The fruits and spices nicely blend with the dark chocolate and caramel. Oak and wood.

Notes: What I really enjoy about this expression is the balance between the initial "fruit and spices" and the dark, dry tastes that come later. Although it can seem almost too light at first the long, dry finish complements the lightness perfectly. The somewhat higher alcohol content helps to give a potent kick and warmth. Makes me think of a summer sunset at the beach.

This 14 Year Old Balvenie is only available in the Travel Retail segment. It was finished on Caribbean rum casks, lending it a nice golden sheen. Hence the name GoldenCask. It was bottled at the slightly higher than normal drinking strength of 47,5% ABV.

The rum shows itself early on the nose. Light brown sugar, banana, dried fruits, cinnamon and a whole bunch of nuts. On top of that, the typical Balvenie sweetness of oranges and vanilla is added. Taking a profound whiff rewards you with a wonderful hint of peat and pipe tobacco. Very complex.

It has a good body and great mouthfeel. Creamy, almost buttery. Immediately honeysweet, followed by the spices from the nose. Slightly peated, or so it seems. A perfect continuation of the nose. Midpalate, I make associations in my mind of sugared orange peel.

The finish is not overly long, but very sweet and warming.

This is candy whisky. Seems perfect with dessert or a big cigar. For the sweet teeth among us. I am one of them.

Complex nose. Slightly floral. Slightly fruity. Smooth delivery which leaves some spices at the back of the throat. Rich nutmeg, all spice, pine seeds. Mixed in chocolate and raisins. The rum casks play their role admirably without appearing too boisterous. Didn't expect something so complex from something this young. A beautiful mix of dry fruits and flowers. A splash of water will open up and magnify all the flavors.