4 Nov
One of our favorite Scotches gets finished off in Madeira Wine casks

balvenie-madeira

I love my Balvenie. It is truly one of my favorite Scotches. It may not be the most expensive or exclusive, but it’s from my favorite region (Speyside), falls handsomely in my price range (about $45/bottle for 12-Year) and tickles my tastebuds in anticipated fancy at the mere thought of a tumbler full. I get perky and start doing ninja kicks just thinking about it. So needless to say I’m excited to try the latest release from The Balvenie distillery — a limited edition 17 year old single malt Scotch finished in Madeira casks. As usual it’s matured in traditional oak, but this edition is finished off in casks previously used to make fortified Madeira wine, lending the whisky rich flavors of spice and dried fruit.

According to The Balvenie:

“Each bottling is its own alchemy of spirit, wood and time, but knowing how well port and Oloroso sherry cask maturation complements The Balvenie’s honeyed sweetness we were sure that a Madeira cask would produce interesting results,” Balvenie Malt Master David Stewart notes.” The 17 year old whisky extracted some wonderful rich spice and distinct raisin flavours from the Madeira cask, which we hope malt enthusiasts will enjoy discovering in the glass.”

At the 2006 International Spirits Challenge, The Balvenie was awarded gold medals for its Founder’s Reserve 10 Year Old, DoubleWood 12 Year Old, Balvenie New Wood 17 Year Old, PortWood 21 Year Old, Balvenie Thirty and Balvenie Portwood 1991. This is the biggest gold medal haul for any brand in any one year since the competition began.

The Madeira Cask 17 Year Old is the latest in a series of six 17 Year Old limited editions bottled by Balvenie — each year using a different cask type and mature spirit to create a new expression of The Balvenie. This year’s Madeira Cask is a followup to 2008’s release, the award-winning Balvenie RumCask. I had no idea Balvenie had won so many awards — I guess it wasn’t just all in my head… and liver. The stuff truly is nectar. Pick it up for about $120-145 a bottle and invite me over for a nightcap…

3 Responses to “Balvenie Madeira Cask 17-Year Old Scotch”

  1. […] 15-year, absolute gold at Costco for about $40 a bottle. We would’ve loved to try that Balvenie Madeira, of course, but haven’t had the opportunity (Balvenie, if you’re out there sweet Lord […]

  2. Olen Perfect says:

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  3. Lissabon är bara några av de pärlor som finns i Portugal. Klart att rekommendera för sommar semestern.

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