The Balvenie PortWood 21 Year Old

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A long-aged Balvenie: whiskies of at least 21 years matured in traditional oak, then finished in port casks. Ripe raisin fruit, honey and nuts come together on a creamy palate.

Details

Brand	The Balvenie
Distillery	The Balvenie
Origin	Scotland / Speyside
Style	Single Malt
Age	21 yrs
ABV	40%
Cask	Oak casks, port cask finish

Flavour profile

Smoky
Sweet
Fruity
Spicy
Rich

* Editorial estimate.

Tasting notes

Nose: Ripe raisin and berry fruit, balanced by a nutty dryness.
Palate: Creamy and silky, with fruit and honey sweetness and gentle spice.
Finish: Long and gentle, with a lingering nuttiness.

* Editorial tasting notes.

How to enjoy it

Neat
With water

Sip it neat and slowly to appreciate the subtleties of long ageing; the fruit opens up the longer it sits in the glass. If you add water, keep it to a drop or two.

Food pairing

Dried fruit, nuts and chocolate. Also aged hard cheeses or foie gras terrine.

Background & production

Made at The Balvenie in Dufftown, Speyside. Founded by William Grant in 1892, it is still owned by William Grant & Sons. It malts part of its own barley on traditional floors and keeps coopers and coppersmiths on site.

The distillery is known for cask finishing — moving whisky into a different cask at the end of maturation — and the 21 Year Old is one of its signature examples. Whisky matured in traditional oak casks is transferred to casks (pipes) that previously held port.

It is bottled at 40% ABV.