Balvenie DoubleWood

[Luna56]

Having my first dram of this tonight. It's a little perplexing, especially after comparing it to the Balvenie 15, but it's growing on me. Started off overly dry and tannic, but a few minutes in the glass has mellowed it out a bit.

I'll get back to you after a couple more.

Cheers!

[Dramiel McHinson]

Having my first dram of this tonight. It's a little perplexing, especially after comparing it to the Balvenie 15, but it's growing on me. Started off overly dry and tannic, but a few minutes in the glass has mellowed it out a bit.

I'll get back to you after a couple more.

Cheers!

My first bottle of the Double Wood was classic Balvenie profile so I bought three more bottles a year later(2007) when the local store stocked up on it. Unfortunately, when I finally got around to cracking open another bottle it was not close to the older bottle in quality of taste, more like what you described. The real killer was the price was up $20 from the original bottle I bought. I noticed it opened up a little once the bottle was opened and I let it rest for a couple of months. Still, it's not as good as the earlier Double Woods.

[Megawatt]

The Doublewood is what got me started on single malts. I had never tasted a sherried malt before, and the chocolate-orange aromas and flavours were an unexpected pleasure.

[Luna56]

I'm liking the DoubleWood a lot. It's not as impressive as the 15 but good hooch nonetheless.

Cheers!

[shoshani]

The Doublewood is what got me started on single malts.

You have good taste. I got started on single malts courtesy of Balvenie Single Barrel, many years ago. Hell of a distillery!

[jpact]

I had one of those sampler packs with three 50ml bottles. The doublewood just didn't do it for me - Luna's comment of dry and tannic was my experience too. Thought the other two bottles were wonderful. One was the 15-year old single barrel, and the other was a 21-year old port wood (I think.) I came away thinking that some day I'd pick up a full bottle of the 15, but that I'd never have to try the double wood again. Do you really think that letting something open up in the bottle over a couple of months really makes a difference? Is it possible that a 50ml could undermine the whisky?

[Luna56]

I did find it dry and a bit tannic but not off-putting in the least. A little time in the glass evened it out. The dry, tannic flavors persited a little in the finish but were balanced by a little peat, so it worked for me.

The single barrel is still the one to beat in my opinion. I like Balvenie's profile and look forward to trying some other expressions.

Cheers!

[unclebunk]

I greatly prefer bourbon to single malt scotch but was recently in the mood for a change so I picked up the Balvenie Doublewood after reading about it in Michael Jackson's definitive guide to scotch whisky. I'm not a huge fan of heavy peat flavor/aroma in my scotch, so I tend to lean towards Speysides (Balvenie, Aberlour and Macallan in particular) which I find a bit sweeter (like bourbon in that regard) and generally more approachable than the Islays that some scotch drinkers prefer. This is no doubt due to an encounter many years ago with elderly Scottish relatives who repeatedly poured me rather large drams of Lagavulin and Laphroig which, as a novice scotch drinker at the time, completely overwhelmed me. If you want to kill a novice scotch drinker's interest in the "water of life" start them off on Islays!

Having had the Balvenie Doublewood each of the last four nights, I've come to the conclusion that it may very well be the perfect choice for the relative newcomer to single malt scotch, particularly one with a love of bourbon. IMO, it has more character and complexity than Glenlivet (the best selling single malt in America) and Glenmorangie (the best selling single malt in Scotland) and yet is quite drinkable due to the subtle presence of citrus, vanilla, sherry and a whisper of smoke. On these cold winter nights in Chicago, it's hard to beat!

[polyamnesia]

...If you want to kill a novice scotch drinker's interest in the "water of life" start them off on Islays!...

oh i did this to myself....i actually enjoyed the bowmore...but, well, it probably wasn't the best way to dip my toe/tongue in the Water

[Dramiel McHinson]

Do you really think that letting something open up in the bottle over a couple of months really makes a difference? Is it possible that a 50ml could undermine the whisky?

My last bottle of the Balvenie Doublewood has mellowed a bit after sitting in the bottle 2/3 full.

I've also tasted 50ml bottles of whiskey first, liked it, bought a 750 and they didn't taste the same. I don't have a clue about that one.

Taste is subjective and enfluenced by a lot of things that are always changing so give your bottle a rest and then try it again. If you don't want to wait, try it with a big ole helping of hot apple pie and cinnamon with French vanilla ice cream on top. :yum:

[augustgarage]

Among the handful of SMS I've tried, I generally prefer those from Islay (though I need to try some coastal Highland and Island malts); however, I can't get over how wonderful the aroma of Balvenie Doublewood is. The taste is like a broken promise after the nose, but still quite an enjoyable pour when I'm in the mood for it (a decent value too).

[Tennessee Dave]

This was my introduction to single malts as well. I enjoy it very much and it makes up 1/4 of my once a week single malt night that consist of Talisker 10, Glenfiddich 15, and Highland Park 18. Do keep a bottle of Balvenie Portwood 21 for when the mood is right.:cool: