Balvenie Tun 1401 Batch 2 50.6% NV

Professional reviews

Serge Valentin (89)

Batch #1 came from six casks, batch #2 has used ten of them. Success success!

Colour: deep gold.

Nose: very Balvenie this time! Only wee touches of varnish at very first nosing, then a very wide range of fresh and candied fruits including the expected apricots and yellow plums, then more honeydew and yellow flowers, and lastly many beautiful fragrances from the sherry casks, such as raisins, figs, prunes and old Sauternes. Oh, and a little mint once again, and maybe a little ham. The whole is really, really beautiful and very complex provided you give it a little time.

Mouth: it’s a very jammy Balvenie at first sips, with more or less the same notes as in the nose (plums, honey, sweet sherry), but it showcases more and more mentholated notes that make the whole fresh and lively. There’s also quite some spices from the oak but it’s all under control despite a wee sourness after twenty seconds. Cinnamon.

Finish: long, beautifully balanced. Apricot jam with coriander and nutmeg.

Comments: maybe one cask or more were a tad too oaky, hence the… oaky tones (clever, S.!) but the composition works perfectly well. In any case, I fell it’s rather better than batch #1

Gal Granov (96)

Nose: thick rich honey with a lot of cinnamon spice. Coconut , vanilla, cloves. Some dried fruit also enter the "party". A terrific nose. Stunning. No less. This is a all i look for in a nose. sexy and luscious.

Palate: Golden syrup, cinnamon, oak , orange peel, dark chocolate , nutmeg , sultanas and plums. Exquisite, without being too sweet, or too spicy. Balance. Balance.That’s the keyword here.

Finish: Long with Dried mango, and spice. yes, simple and on the money.

Bottom line:

I’m a big Balvenie fan, but this is cracking stuff. I’ve not had a better Balvenie. Period. It’s so harmonious, so whole.This is as closed to perfection as it gets. It really is a stunning whisky. Balanced, with a terrific nose, excellent palate, and breathtaking finish. Perfect.

Whisky Notes (91)

Nose: rich and rounded. Great polished oak up front, immediately followed by thick honeyed notes and orange peel. Nice pineapple candy in the background. Vanilla and almonds. Raisins. Some hay and flowers (old roses). Very light spices. Excellent balance of sherry and bourbon, both are clearly present and work well together. Mouth: velvety and quite dry. Much spicier now, plenty of ginger and white pepper. A little nutmeg. Honey, apricot and (slightly tangy) orange peel again. Oak and vanilla. Faint hints of dark chocolate. Sweeter and fruitier with a few drops of water. Finish: very long, with Seville oranges, chocolate and nutmeg.
The best Balvenie I’ve had so far, including the Balvenie 30 years old. I really like the distillery character but in the past I was somehow missing either punch or personality. This one has a lot of complexity and power. A great marriage, let’s hope it yields many children.

BOW (91)