Balvenie 30 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) - 2013 Release

Note: Some slight scuff marks and minor wear to the box outer.

From the 12 Year Old, right up to the venerable 30 year old expression, the Balvenie house style emerges as one of the lightest and most delicate to be found from Speyside with almost no peat evident. For many tasters (including the prolific Serge Valentin, see review below), the ‘Thirty’ epitomises the distillery profile. Bottled at 47.3% ABV to capture all the signature characteristics, this 2013 release was matured in both x-bourbon and oloroso sherry casks. One only to sell.

Other reviews... I always loved the Thirty. The strength hasn’t changed, it’s always a cask-strengthish 47.3%, in true William Grant fashion. I think I also had it at the World Whisky Awards 2013. Colour: full gold. Nose: oh, this is so much more to my liking on the nose. Pure honey, really. In my experience almost all official Balvenies are honeyed (especially the old ones) but this is actually even more honeyed than honey. You may add a few very ripe apricots and yellow plums (mirabelles). Enough said. Mouth: superb, punchy yet silky, extremely honeyed and jammy, with some brown sugar and fudge coating the whole. I love this richness that never becomes ‘too much’. Vanilla-infused acacia honey like a good friend uses to make. Finish: long, smooooth, rounded, honeyed, with a little orange and mint in the aftertaste that keep your palate as fresh as a baby’s. Comments: perfect, one of my favourite honeyed Speysiders (as opposed to the sherried ones).
91 points - whiskyfun.com