Balvenie Carribean Cask 14, 43% abv.

The Carribean Cask is an interesting one. Basically, Balvenie aged different rums from the West Indies in new American Oak barrels to season the wood. Balvenie then took their own spirit, which had matured in used American barrels for 14 years, and poured it into their emptied seasoned rum barrels for finishing. How long seems to be a mystery. Supposedly Balvenie sells back the rum they made in this fashion. This offering was made after the popular Golden Cask, Cuban Selection, as well as the 17 year Rum Cask, all rum related Balvenies, ended up being discontinued.

Nose: cooked brown beans initially, light vanilla, fruit gummies, light apple, light grapes, light fruit peels from the likes of mangoes and papayas, generally honey sweet. Almost typical Balvenie.

Palate: light, initial palate is a little bitter, mid palate has a little more honey on it, some citrus flavors in there, whipped butter, back palate has some sort of light sherry at first but I think my palate got used to it, some cooking spices, black and white peppers but without the spiciness. A lack of the classic Balvenie honey.

Finish: short, white bread without preservatives, a little oily, light hint of vanilla.

Pretty simple and a little plain for me, thought it was interesting I felt some sherry on the back palate. It seems to have a minor rum barrel influence, didn't get the sour honey sweetness I usually get. Wasn't as sweet as I hoped it would be; I think my tongue is burnt from all those rich whiskies I've had in Japan.

Grade: C

Whiskyanalysis.com, 8.52 ± 0.32 on 21 reviews
Whiskyfun.com, Serge, sgp:441, 84 points
Whisky advocate, John Hansell, 89 points
Whiskynotes, Ruben Luyten, 82/100
Ralfy, 89/100

Image courtesy of Eric Yee.

Eric Yee

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