Balvenie Pedro Ximénez Cask 18 Year

The Balvenie Pedro Ximenez Cask 18-year-old is aged in American oak and then finished for an unspecified period in PX sherry butts, bottled at 48.7% ABV. It's a travel retail exclusive I purchased for 280 CAN (around 200 US) when crossing into Canada from Buffalo last year. This was a welcome surprise. It's rare to find a modern sherry whisky that isn't a poor choice, and it's uncommon for me to enjoy a Balvenie that doesn't cost $500 or more. While I still prefer the Balvenie TUN at $500, the real novelty here is a travel retail exclusive that is not subpar and is superior to the core range offerings. This whisky is significantly more engaging than the 17-year-old Double Wood or the 21-year-old Port Wood, yet it remains accessible to those unfamiliar with whisky. Like most Balvenies, anyone who can drink whisky neat will find this one approachable neat. The PX finish enhances the nose, delivering abundant raisin notes. It also has aromas of raisins, caramel fudge, orange zest, and cacao powder, smelling like a sundae topping. The palate, however, is less impressive as the brilliant sherry character from the nose struggles to stay dominant. You still get the pleasant creamy, honeyed, sweet, and spicy notes of an 18-year-old Balvenie, but it's evident it could have benefited from more time in the PX butt. The whisky somewhat redeems itself on the finish, with the return of raisins and oranges, leaving a quite satisfying lingering aftertaste that warrants a few appreciative smacks of the lips.

An improved version of the older 17 Year double wood. It carries the signature Balvenie notes of honey, peaches, vanilla, coconuts, almonds, and flowers, enhanced by the PX finish which adds layers of dark fruits, chocolate, and berries. Nose: Raisins, Honey, Cantaloupes, Dark Chocolate, Roses, Vanilla, Hazelnuts, Mocha, Almonds, Peaches, Raspberries Palate: Raisins, Prunes, Honey, Dates, Milk Chocolate, Lavender, Morello Cherries, Blackberries, Cinnamon, Coconuts, Almonds, Nutmeg, Violets, White Chocolate, Roses, Grapefruit, Grilled Pineapples Finish: Prunes, Mocha, Nutmeg, Christmas Cakes, Raisins, Ginger, Blood Oranges, Grapefruit, Roses, White Peaches, Lavender

Sherry-forward. You can definitely identify the PX character on the nose, smelling of raisins, prunes, dried fruit, nuts, and some acetone. Upon the first taste, it offers sweetness, followed by licorice, then apricot, and a bit of toffee and caramel. The finish is long, oily, and full-bodied. Spices like cloves and nutmeg emerge. It lingers for a while, with a not-too-bitter aftertaste. This one is not hot at all, considering its 48%+ ABV. A great addition to the Balvenie range. It's a bit pricey too: I purchased this for $220 at London Heathrow. Was it worth it? I believe so, especially if you're a Balvenie enthusiast like myself.

Fruity and welcoming. Initial notes include vanilla, prune, fig, cashew, walnut, soft oak, with hints of hay and leather, transitioning back to some prune sweetness. The finish is short to medium in length and exceptionally smooth for its 48% ABV. It's full of salted caramel, mild cinnamon, and walnut.

Nose: caramel, raisin toast, fig pudding, buckwheat pancakes, vanilla, banana, with a faint trace of leather and spice. Palate: Heavy oak at first, followed by caramel sweetness, banana bread, raisin, and baked apples. A subtle dark chocolate bitterness fades into pound cake with prunes and figs.

Sweet and flavorful.