Balvenie Peated Cask 17 Years is Balvenie whisky that was aged in casks that had previously been used to age peated Balvenie single malt. Back In 2001 Balvenie did a heavily peated run that was aged in ex-bourbon barrels. At some point the spirit was transferred out of those barrels and into new casks to continue it’s maturation. That’s when they decided to put some 17 year-old Balvenie in the casks and see what would happen.
Those casks had soaked up so much of the peated quality that after a “short period” it had taken on a lightly peated aspect of its own. To further balance the whisky out they blended it with some similarly aged Balvenie that had been finished in new charred oak. This addition of the virgin oak gave the whisky a bit of spice to go along with the smoke and that’s how the Balvenie Peated Cask 17 Years was born. Now on to the review.
Balvenie Peated Cask 17 Years Info
Region: Speyside, Scotland
Distiller: The Balvenie
Mashbill: 100% Malted Barley
Cask: ex-Bourbon & ex-“Peated Cask”
Age: 17 years
ABV: 43%
Price: $120
Balvenie Peated Cask 17 Years Review
EYE
Amber
NOSE
Honey, fruit, malt, baking spices and citrus. Light notes of nuts and a bit of smoke – like someone burned a bit of peat while walking through the room 10 minutes ago.
PALATE
Honey, fruit, malt, baking spices, citrus peels, nuts and peat. Light notes of a candy sweetness. The peat is more prevalent in the palate than the nose and builds an elegant balance with the sweet and malty notes.
FINISH
Long and fruity with hints of malt, dark sweets and peat.
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Great balance, medium body and a silken feel.
OVERALL
Balvenie Peated Cask 17 Years is a fantastic daily drinker with just enough peat in it to build dimension against the sweets and spices. It’s a complex and tasty dram that delivers subtle notes across the senses which sit side by side with the bolder notes in a way that makes it fun and interesting to drink sip after sip. I enjoyed every second of it.
However, I wish at least some of the malt was peated. I know it couldn’t have been 17 year since the peated run was done in 2001, but even at a bit younger of an age it would have given it a bit bolder of a peated character and could have added a bit more depth. I’m not saying it needs to be the level of an Ardbeg or Laphroaig, but just a bit more in there to give the peat a more solid presence across the nose and through the palate and finish would have been spectacular.
SCORE: 87-89/100 (B+, not consumed at home)