Balvenie 15 YO Single Barrel Sherry Cask #11285

Balvenie 15 YO Single Barrel Sherry Cask #11285, 47,8 %

The Speyside distillery Balvenie has a series of single cask releases going. One of these is the Balvenie 15 YO Single Barrel Sherry Cask. I have now tried the latest release that arrived in Norway, namely the Balvenie 15 YO Single Barrel Sherry Cask #11285. The total outturn for this release was 650 bottles. It was most likely (but not confirmed) matured in an Oloroso sherry butt.

The Balvenie 15 YO Single Barrel Sherry Cask #11285 is now sold out both in Norway (NOK 1099), Sweden (SEK 993) and the UK (GBP 75), but there will probably be a new single cask available in this series soon.

Nose: Cool and relaxed. Cold classroom, stacks of paper, wooden pencils, pencil sharpeners, strawberry scented erasers. Woah, I'm back in school... Spooky! Give it a few more minutes and warmer fruity notes seep in.

Taste: Medium body, somewhat oily mouthfeel. Nutmeg, pencil shavings and caramel flavoured paper. Believe me, this is not as bad as it sounds. I quite enjoy it, but it is somewhat unusual.

Finish: Medium long finish. Honey with a dash of citrus now. More spicy - white pepper, licorice and ginger. Nutty and slightly watery towards the end.

Comments: Don't get too hung up on my trip down memory lane. This is a solid dram.

Score (86/100)

Image from Master of Malt, but different cask number.

Sláinte! - Thomas