Balmenach 14yo, 2001-2015, Liquid Treasures
ABV: 51.9%
Region: Speyside
Price per bottle: °°
Bottling: eSpirits Whisky for Liquid Treasures
Cask type: Refill sherry hogshead (245 btl.)

 

Colour: Pale straw.
Nose: A light nose with lots of yellow fruit, banana, apricot, pear and hints of yellow apples. A lot of malty and vanilla sweetness, creamy with a subtle freshness, maybe mint coming through. The alcohol is not yet fully integrated but stays discreet in the background.
Palate: There's a creamy sweetness on the palate with banana, pear and luscious vanilla before spicy notes, cracked black pepper and chilli take over. Bold and intense, but a short spicy kick, displaced by sticky honey, bitter orange peel and a whiff of grassy notes. Amazing.
Finish: A medium to long, malty and sweet/sour finish. Liquorice with pink grapefruit coming through.
With water: There's more fruitiness along with lingering vanilla on the nose, with a delicate mix of sweet, sour and spicy flavours on the palate, and a creamy fruity/sour finish. Very fascinating!
Comments: This whisky is very interesting with alternating waves of sweet, sour and also spicy flavours. Deep sherry aroma isn't present here at all but allows gentle fruit coming through. An extraordinary but very pleasant dram.

 

I thank Dailydram.de for sample and photo!