Balvenie Caribbean Cask Aged 14 Years Single Malt Scotch, 70cl

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There should be no surprise that I find this Balvenie to be INCREDIBLY sweet. In fact, I’d go so far as to say that The Caribbean Cask would fit in perfectly in your average bourbon tasting. If you’re a bourbon guy looking for something similar in the malt whisky world, look no further (well, I guess you could look slightly further to the Glenmorangie Nector D’or). I have to be in the mood for something this sweet. Still, this certainly has its place within the lineup of what continues to be my distillery of choice. In terms of mouthfeel, both whiskies have a smooth, creamy texture that complements their respective flavours beautifully. The Caribbean Cask provides warmth and sweetness that lingers on your tongue while enjoying its complexity; in contrast, drinking the Doublewood brings out its signature sweetness that leaves you wanting more! My previous (limited) experiences with Balvenie have not exactly encouraged me to explore their full range of expressions. I've sampled the 12 yo DoubleWood (not bad, no more), the 17 yo Peated Cask (great nose, at least), and I shared my thoughts on the 15 yo Single Cask in a previous review. This cookie is set by Rubicon Project to control synchronization of user identification and exchange of user data between various ad services. To make The Balvenie 14 Year Old Caribbean Cask, David Stewart MBE takes whisky that has spent at least 14 years in American oak ex-bourbon barrels oak casks, before transferring it to casks that once contained Caribbean rum. This allows the first casks to slowly impart the familiar flavours of The Balvenie - that characterful taste of vanilla and smooth rich honey. The result is an exceptional single malt whisky, acquiring the traditional smooth, honeyed character of The Balvenie, married with notes of toffee, a hint of fruit, with a warm, lingering finish.

On the nose, you will be greeted by aromas of nuttiness intermingled with fragrant spices such as sweet sultanas and grapes – all which linger enticingly on your palate. The Bouquet evolves into sweetness producing hints of vanilla and subtle spiciness intertwined with flavours of dried fruits, nuts, nutmeg and cinnamon for an enticing taste experience. The finish is balanced allowing warmth and sweetness to linger in perfect harmony. Too bad that Pierce got more screen time, which also happened with Balvenie. Dryness wins barely, but just enough to earn under 80 points from me. Palate: At first fruity just like the bouquet. The raisins and plums arrive fruits followed by bananas, cherries and a sweet vanilla custard. The rum influenced caramel, milk chocolate and muscovado sugar add to the sweetness as it starts developing. Mid palate the wood starts coming into play and dries out the palate a bit which I found nice after the initial sweetness. The rum really hits it stride as it enters into the finish, which is moderate to long in length. Along with the rum there’s also notes of vanilla, sweet brown sugar and touches of oak. And the mouthfeel is slightly dry but full bodied and creamy. Finish: Long but not for my taste. The dry rum cask wins the battle, giving few chances for the sugar canes to impact. Finish: Sugarcane again, only mildly sweet, with ginger and lime zest. Short and simple, but pleasant and with no disturbances. A surprising effect is that after a minute, you feel you are exhaling cocoa powder through your nose.The sweet, fruity notes of Balvenie 14 Caribbean Cask make it an ideal companion for desserts such as dark chocolate cake, or crème brûlée – all of which will bring out its subtle nuttiness and fragrant spices. crème brûlée The nose has a scent of rum, unmistakenly and not very surprising. Malt sweetness and I also get a whiff of Oloroso (which is strange as I believe this is only bourbon cask and rum cask, but it's there anyway). Papaya... some Tropicana and wet dark ebony wood. Some roasted/toasted elements in there, can't really pinpoint it. Bit of dark marmalade seems to be a common thread in the Balvenie for me. Bits of oak intertwined with sherry. Fresh grapes and red berries and spices with vanilla. Rich and inviting. Rich with sweet notes of ripe mango, pineapple and guava, toffee, Christmas Cake and plump rum soaked raisins. Hints of floral notes and malt intermingling with oak come to mind. Hints of fudge and soft spices.

To enhance these flavours even further, try adding a dollop of rich vanilla ice cream on top – this decadent combination is sure to satisfy any sweet tooth! Vanilla Ice Cream Revisiting my favorite brand once again, I’ll be reviewing the Balvenie’s 14 Year Caribbean Cask. My father asked me if I wanted to have a dram of this recently while I was visiting for dinner. Who I am to disrespect my elders? This is one of only a few whiskies my father has ever liked enough to buy for himself and I know exactly why. He’s got a bit of a sweet tooth so this is a perfect fit. Strain the shredded coconut using a fine mesh trainer. Store for up to one month in the refrigerator.Discover an exceptional single malt whisky that delivers the traditional smooth, honeyed character of The Balvenie expertly infused with notes of creamy toffee, ripe fruit and ending in a warm, lingering finish. The Balvenie Caribbean Cask 14 Year Old is a fantastic addition to your collection or a wonderful gift for any whisky enthusiast, available in a 70cl bottle ready for gifting. The Balvenie Caribbean Cask and Doublewood are two of the finest whiskies produced by Balvenie. The Caribbean Cask is a 14-year-aged single malt whisky that has been finished in rum casks which have previously held a variety of Caribbean rums. This process imparts a rich, tropical flavor profile to the whisky, with notes of vanilla, coconut, and dried fruit. Meanwhile, the Doublewood is a 12-year-old single malt whisky which has also been aged in both traditional oak barrels and sherry casks. The resulting whiskey is full of flavours of honeyed sweetness, spice, vanilla and oranges. I admit, I am completely enamoured with the Balvenie Caribbean Cask 14-year-old single malt whisky. It has a rich, tropical flavour profile that is highlighted by the rum casks in which it is finished. Its notes of vanilla, coconut, and dried fruit make it a delight for any whisky enthusiast looking to experience something truly unique. This whisky is in fairly good balance but it ends up being too flat, especially from the nose. With a finish nicely long, which just doesn’t match my taste. This Balvenie gives a warm feel of Caribbean, but not in the best way. It is like watching After the Sunset. Offers sweet spots like the beautiful scenery or appearings of Salma Hayek in the film – just to be died down by too much dryness, like Pierce Brosnan’s dry behavior on the silver screen. You will have to read my review of the Balvenie 14 Caribbean Cask that will begin as soon as this sentence concludes. About the Distillery

Evenly spread the shredded coconut on a rimmed baking sheet and toast in the oven until golden brown, stirring halfway through, about 5 to 7 minutes. Nose: Quite light. Sugarcane and under-ripe nectarine, then some unsalted butter intensifying with time. Overall clean and fresh, not spicy. Holy spicy! Honey, sugar and caramel sweetness abound. Wow… With water, the fruit comes forward a lot. The spicy sweetness doesn't go ANYWHERE though. This whisky is seriously liquid dessert.Nose: Honey, vanilla, and malt dominate, with touches of apples, raisins, wood, and bitter tea. A wonderful, ever-evolving nose.

This 14-year-old single malt Scotch whisky is crafted using Balvenie’s traditional floor malting techniques as well as only using their own home-grown barley – something that’s rare in Scotland these days. In conclusion, though the palate and nose are prettt wonderful, the finish really lets this whisky down, its just too watery. I believe this whisky would have really benefitted from a small increase in abv. Other than that I would love to have better access to more unique whisky like this but prices for anything a little special seem to climb higher and higher.

What next?

The multi-award-winning Balvenie Distillery in Banffshire is famous for being the only distillery in Scotland to retain the traditional core crafts of whisky production. Nowhere else will you find a distillery that still grows its own barley, still malts its own traditional floor maltings and still employs a team of skilled coopers to tend all the casks and a coppersmith to maintain the stills. The Balvenie Doublewood 12 was my introduction to the world of whisky – so it will always hold a special place in my heart. Plus, its versatility makes it an excellent choice for almost any occasion or celebration — ranging from casual drinking nights with friends to intimate dinner parties. Nose2: Richer but still light. It has a touch more butter than before, now sitting on wheat bread. I can imagine this buttered bread slice has a very light honey on it-- However, I still find that sweet element closer to sugarcane than honey. Probing further, the fruit is now a red apple slice.