Balmenach 2008 - Connoisseurs Choice (Gordon & MacPhail)

Stop number 88 on the SDT is Balmenach, another Speyside distillery not commonly known. This distillery has changed hands multiple times in its almost 200 years. It was closed in 1993 and reopened in 1997 under its present owners, Inver House. This approximately 8-year-old was distilled in 2008 and bottled in 2016 by Gordon and MacPhail for their Connoisseurs Choice line. Matured in a mix of refill sherry and refill bourbon casks, bottled at 46%, likely non-chill filtered with a natural pale gold color. The nose is rich and extremely sweet, very sugary. Concord grapes, raisins, and blackberry jam on toast. A bit malty, honey, and a candy-like sweetness. Dates, plums, faint mint, sweet vanilla, and some sherry notes. Almonds/marzipan, blueberry donut filling, glazed donuts, and buttercream frosting. Very confectionary. A quick hit of chocolate licorice, which is a love-it-or-hate-it flavor, and I personally love it, reminding me of Saturday mornings with my grandmother. A little water softens the sherry and allows more bourbon notes to come through. The palate has toasted oak, buttered toast with blackberry jam, very sweet. Almonds/marzipan and sticky sweet sherry. A bit of a waxy note and something like maple syrup. A hint of blueberry and glazed doughnuts, perhaps even a little pecan pie. A medium-bodied mouthfeel that is dry and sometimes a little sharp. The finish is medium length with soft oak, berries, sugary sweetness, and a little waxiness. If you crave sweetness, this will satisfy nicely. If you dislike sweet whisky, avoid it. At 7-8 years old, this is not a bad scotch by any means. It lacks complexity on the palate, but its existing notes are very clear. The nose is like being in a Polish bakery on Fat Tuesday, smelling all the wonderful paczkis ready to be claimed. It's definitely a dessert dram and would probably be good over vanilla ice cream. At $55, it's a reasonable price for the quality, but perhaps not for the age. I would buy this to indulge my sweet tooth if I saw it on a shelf. The lack of complexity does lower the score slightly, but I could easily give it a 3.75 or a 4 depending on my mood. Another thanks to a friend for the sample. Just what I needed tonight. Cheers.

Here is another little-known Speyside distillery, Balmenach, from which our group obtained a sample. Founded in 1824, it ranks among Scotland's older distilleries. It is currently owned by Inver House Distillers and has an annual production of approximately 2 million liters. Its history isn't particularly remarkable, apart from changing hands several times and being temporarily closed during economic downturns in the mid-to-late 1990s. This particular expression is an 8-year-old bottling from Gordon & MacPhail. It's very pale in color, nearly matching the hue of most peated Islays. It leaves few legs and forms tiny beads on the glass when swirled. It's bottled at 46% ABV. The aroma is intensely sweet, like buttery pound cake. There are also notes of honey and light chocolate. The youthful spirit and fresh oak are noticeable. The palate is characterized by sweet heat and honey. Milk chocolate swirls through, while maintaining a light and thin mouthfeel. This prevents it from becoming an overly sweet, dessert-like dram and contributes to an enjoyable overall experience. I'm curious how this would taste with significant aging or a first-fill cask finish. The finish is brief, too brief, in fact. Chocolate notes linger, along with oak tannins and the warmth from the ABV, providing a comforting sensation. It's a solid dram. Overall, it delicately balances between being an excessively sweet dessert dram and a rich, Speyside sherry-finished malt. It's a solid 3.5-4 star dram. I intend to research some older bottles for a future purchase; it's quite good. My thanks to my friend, Pranay, for the sample. Cheers.

Following a hangout with companions, I returned home and had a drink. A rare occurrence for me on a weekday, but I need to catch up on my samples. A friend provided this. The aroma offered artificial cereal like Frosted Flakes with vanilla and honey, plus a hint of baker's chocolate. A fruity aspect emerged with time, showing orange and lemon zest, and unripe apples. The medium-bodied palate started with spice, possibly due to slight immaturity. Oak and almonds contributed an earthiness. As it settled, sweetness surfaced: confectioners' sugar, honey, tea, and oranges. Near the end, the initial earthiness returned with a fresh ginger zing, leading into the finish. What remained was oak char, mint, and sucrose, leaving the palate a bit dry. This lingered for a considerable time. Sugar and spice aptly describe this dram. However, the balance is slightly off, like music in C-minor instead of C-major. More time in the barrel might resolve the imperfections. All that said, it's accessible and pleasing. [85/100] [Tasted: 6/27/18]

Remarkable spirit. The aroma offered a strong burst of blueberry pop tart, jasmine, white wine, candy, and citrusy oranges. It's very well-balanced at this stage. On the palate, I experienced a generous amount of custard, grapes, a hint of mint, cream, and a subtle mineral note. The mouthfeel and finish are medium, with a dry quality and an enduring metallic sensation. I enjoyed the beginning, but the progression wasn't to my liking. The theme should be a surprising metallic element that's somewhat unsettling. I'm reminded of the song "I Believe in a Thing Called Love" by The Darkness. Appreciate the effort, friend. My rating is 2.5.

This was one of my contributions to our trading team for round 6. You need to be in the right frame of mind for this one; it's very sweet. I'm not a fan of desserts at all; my typical dessert is just an espresso. To me, this tasted like cheesecake made with artificial sweetener, not real sugar. If you enjoy sweets, it's worth a try. If you prefer savory things, stay away. (Thanks to a friend for adding this.)