whisky review 83 - Balvenie 12 yo Doublewood

[HappyDay989]

I had a direct comparison of Balvenie 12 Double Wood with Cragganmore 12, and for both me and my friend the Cragganmore won hands down. I'm confident that the Signatory Vintage Cragganmore 13 (43 % ABV, non chillfiltered, no caramel added) will be even better - I'm going to order and taste it soon!

[chrish12345]

I got one for Christmas and have just opened it - nice savoury flavour and more sherried than I expected, plus I like the 'home-made' barley flavours. I was pleasantly surprised.

[jgroves306]

I have just bought a bottle of this malt and find it similar in taste to The Glenlivet French Oak 15yo. The finish is slightly too short for my liking however, but overall I really enjoy this whisky. Ralfy do you have any plans to make a video on recommended Speysiders or if not could you recommend some? Thanks!

[ralfystuff]

@jgroves306

Glenfarclas and GlenDronach 15yo's

[Hamporkcheese]

83/100  for whiskey review 83....

[RidersDiaries]

Thanks for the tip...pour two glasses and then compare..:)

[MrxCarbine]

20,000 views for some guy getting wasted

[poolshark920]

@MrxCarbine You must be like... 10

[wesleytaylorviadomus]

Hello again Ralfy, how are you doing? I would like to know, is there any other single malts that are almost exactly like the Balvenie 12 Double Wood? This is my favorite Scotch! I wish I can find others like it. I would greatly appreciate a response. Thank you and have a good day.

[ralfystuff]

@wesleytaylorviadomus

nothing quite as identical but check out some of the others and you may consider other fruity Speysiders like Aberlour, Glen Elgin and Benromach  .... your spoiled for choice.

[jonathanbarshaul]

Hi

[jonathanbarshaul]

In regards to the Balvenie Single Cask. I have a few questions. Should I buy a few Bottles from the same Cask or would my $ be better spent on one bottle from different caskings? If your answer is the former rather than the latter, should I try to get like bottles 5-6-7 or more like 5-18-65 meaning would I get more nuance with straight numbered bottles or bottles with some separation. Am I just crazy for thinking this? What do you think. Any advise would be helpful:)

[ralfystuff]

@jonathanbarshaul

if you like it, can afford it, and see the benefit of a stock-up (as I sometimes do) . . . go for it, otherwise, take a few risks occasionally.

.... and don't feel crazy about anything.

[wesleytaylorviadomus]

This is my favorite single malt I have tried so far. Delicious flavors of sherry, vanilla, chocolate, and rich fruits. Very affordable. Much better than Macallan 12, Glenlivet & Glenfiddich 12, Chivas 12 Johnnie Walker Black label. Even better than the blue label! But for me, Johnnie Walker Gold Label is my alternate favorite.

[BabyEater9000]

I like Te Bheag better than this. Maybe I'm just heavily into heavier flavours, but the Balvenie Doublewood was too light and especially its finish was subtle for my taste.

[MrSuperiorKind]

@RALFYSTUFF couldn't be more agreeable on the " doesn't hang around for long"... in fact i have tried the 21 port wood, and i would say it's a dissappoinment.

[KrokodylPiotr]

yea it's great for the price, uplifting

[reece32100]

Ralfy,

I found this scotch a little too sweet for my taste and I was rather dissatisfied with it at first. I found that the double cask maturation method was also in the Aberlour line and I tried them together and compared. I enjoyed the Aberlour much more. Then I realized soemthing, I think that this Scotch is best suited for dessert and after a meal. Any thoughts?

[ralfystuff]

@reece32100

I notice that Balvenie DW is less of a Whisky than it was a few years ago, still decent, but you right, not as full-flavoured as Aberlour 12yo and a'bunadh.

[Hargiwald]

@ralfystuff That's a shame. I noticed a tax free shop which I'm going to come across in a not so distant future had the Portwood, unchillfiltered and at 47,6 %, and I was thinking of giving it a go, but maybe not then.

[FMichael1970]

Ralfy - any chance of you doing a review on the recently released Balvenie 14 yr Caribbean Cask?

[ralfystuff]

@FMichael1970

... not going to happen ! ... this one is not generally available in little Britain and I will be buying other Malts as Balvenie is increasingly not the Whisky it used to be ... due to promotion and demand e.t.c.

[FMichael1970]

@ralfystuff

From your reply I get the impression that you feel the quality of some of the whisky's at Balvenie has started to slide?

[ralfystuff]

... I think the early versions were of such a good quality (prior to intensive marketing) that new releases have a hard job sustaining expectations.

I have reviewed younger versions including doublewood and signature, but recent feed-back on new bottlings have been 'mixed'.

As I buy the Whisky I review I have to be fussy about what I go for so as not to waste £$£$

[shuboy05]

@FMichael1970

In fact the Caribbean Cask is a US only release (which doesn't happen that often).

[Cadmium77]

I swear to god you've got one of the best shows on You Tube..

[ozstriker1984]

Hi Ralfy, enjoying your reviews alot, quick question though when you talk about the flavours of cinammon orange spices and the such, i would just like to know how these flavours or smells are introduced into the whiskey.

[ralfystuff]

@ozstriker1984

No flavours or smells are introduced, all come from distilled malted-barley and oak-cask interaction. The complexity of nose is due to a prolonged activity of water with alcohol (ethanol) compounds breaking down with aid of natural acids, oxygen and time.

All natural, all fabulous.

[blitzspeer]

I have a bottle of this fine scotch and it's got a pretty smooth throat feel and nice oak and fruit preserves flavor apple,plum and pear notes with a little bit of cardamom and sasparilla married with Kentucky red oak and that's really what I get.

[chrish12345]

Ralfy its thanks to your reviews that I hear the word like 'weakness in the delivery' and it stop me from shelling out for these Balvenie whiskys, I don't really wanna pay all that money for 'water' which I can get free from my taps.

[mrpicky510]

Ralfy...please correct me if I'm totally off base with this comparison, but I felt this whiskey was somewhat remeniscient of Glen Fiddich 18...not an expert opinion by any means

[ralfystuff]

@mrpicky510

As the two Distilleries are next door to each other using same grain, water, staff and cask-source,  comparisons are understandable taste-wise.

[aphasia2]

how is the 15 year from this?

[ralfystuff]

@aphasia2

... from samplings last year, ... decent 86/100

[FMichael1970]

@aphasia2 Just to forewarn you I'm a novice in the realm of scotch...That said I've just recently sampled the Balvenie 12 year Doublewood, and I really enjoyed it (so much that I just purchased 2 bottles)...Personally I prefer the 12 year Doublewood over the 15 year since the 15 year is a tad too "spicey" for my novice taste buds, and the sherry in the Doublewood adds a touch of sweetness that I immediately grew fond of.

[millrhighlife]

Ralfy I've noticed that in almost all of your whiskey reviews you talk about adding water to the whiskey. Can you explain to me exactly why you do this and what it does to the whiskey? I don't know if you've already addressed this in another video. If you have my apologies. Thank you for your time and I thoroughly enjoy your reviews!

[ralfystuff]

@millrhighlife

... have a look at my latest 'WhiskyStuff' Blog at ralfy.com, ... it will help with the science of it all.

[krabby4000]

hey ralfy whats the top 10 single malts that you recommend?

[ralfystuff]

@krabby4000 Springbank 10yo Bladnoch 9yo Benromach 10yo Ben Nevis 10yo Cragganmore 12yo Ancnoc12yo Old Pulteney 12yo Caol Ila 12yo Glenturret 12yo Highland Park 12yo

[Ichnos76]

I've finally opened my bottle and tasted with a friend one hour ago.

Amazing.

Better than other famous (maybe overrated) speyside products.

...'it goes away', i agree!

[Bigturns33]

I tell ya what I have the Balvenie Doublewood 12 and its a good whisky. Your review was bang on. The price is just right as well for this one. I am like your Ralfy, i like the long finish which is why i do like the isle such as lephroig but its a good whisky and a good one to start none whisky drinkers on.

[indianen]

Hey Ralfy! Really enjoy looking at your reviews of whisky. I'm new to the world of whisky, guess a friend introduced me to it a year back or so. In any case, love it and I love to explore different brands and kinds of whisky. As for your videos, much interesting stuff! I like how you often tell a little tale about the whisky or the distillery. You certainly add your own touch. Much appreciated. I find myself sitting up way too late watching :-)

Have a good weekend!

[ralfystuff]

@indianen

... why thank you for the compliments !!!

always appreciated.

..... and don't deprive yourself of sleep, ... it dulls the senses.

[jonlwlp]

Ralfy, I want a review of the Portwood 21!

[Uzsmas]

I really enjoy your reviews. A few days ago I had a glass of Balvenie 10yo in a bar, and i really liked it. Unfortunately it seems like they dont sell the 10yo anymore. Would you recommend the doublewood or the signature instead ? which one is closer ?

[ralfystuff]

@Uzsmas ... Signature !

[FMichael1970]

@ralfystuff I too enjoy the 10 year Founders Reserve, and luckily I have been able to find a few bottles to enjoy. Anywho - my novice taste buds found the Balvenie 15 year Single Barrel a tad too "spicey" for my liking (gave it to my mom who's a lover of Scotch Whisky), and so when my supply of 10 year old runs out - I should look to the 12 year Signature as a similar product to the 10 year? Any other similar scotch whisky's out there that you could recommend to this newcomer of Scotch Whisky?

[ralfystuff]

@FMichael1970

... Glenmorangie 10, Glenfiddich 15, Cragganmore 12, Glen Elgin 12 and Strathisla 12.

... happy dramming.

[DarkheartTheHeritic]

my dad let me try a bit of the 21 year old port wood balvenie to show me what "good" whisky was like.... nothing wrong with it quite smooth but i think the port gave it a flavor i didnt like

[ralfystuff]

@DarkheartTheHeritic ..... what a generous dad ! .... and now I think you will be avoiding 'finished' whiskies if this one didn't appeal.

Port gives a lot of 'fruity' to whisky, but can also lead into bitterness and a flat finish.

I prefere rum/sherry matured Malts that are balanced !

[DarkheartTheHeritic]

@ralfystuff i am interested in this one as well as the 15 year old glenfiddich perhaps slightly more the glenfiddich but still both are quite interesting... and yes it just seems weird to me to add wine flavor to a whisky and i give sherry a raised eyebrow as well but the only way to know for certain is to wait it out for the next 4 years and save a bunch of money for my 21 birthday whisky spree :D

[charlesouellet]

I just bought it, can't wait to taste...In Quebec it is only 58$ CAN

[donkhanone82]

my favourite

[beyond7]

With all these new wood treatments, they should have classifications for scotch,as they do for Cognac. This should be VSNC, ie Very Smooth, No Character.

[beyond7]

This wood, that wood.. very funny. I still don't want to taste wood though, so I will take a good 'fresh' whisky anyday. Maybe I don't understand something, but if one wants sherry or port in one's whisky , why not add some? I sometimes add Noilly Prat, which is prefer to any sherry/port..

[ralfystuff]

... you have your whisky any way you want to !

To add sherry will work a bit, to give the influence through the oak wood casks is altogether more sophistocated in it's results.

[NagareboshiFin]

I also think that 80 $ is far too much. It is good, but not that good.

[Silky2dope]

would love to try this 1 but here in arizona its $80

[ralfystuff]

... that is far too expensive.  That's nearly £50 in Little Britain

[Gearaholics]

I'm drinking the 15 yr single barrel yes over an hour: 1-20 minutes fruit and sherry, 20-40 minutes caramel and toffee, 40-60 minutes strong oak.

[ralfystuff]

... well observed ! ... and accurate too.

[butephoto]

Any way of calling a finished whisky something different and they'll try it...

[smsmmns]

Just to clarify some of the facts you present:

Whisky Oak is the simplest way to refer to second(or more) fill barrels, ie. barrels that have already held Scotch Malt Whisky. At Grant's they only call barrels ex-sherry the first time used for maturing whisky.

Also, nowhere in the label literature does it say matured for 11yr10m in Whisky Oak, and 2mo in Sherry oak. It is matured for 12yr in Whisky Oak and 9mo in Sherry casks.

Finally, DoubleWood is 43% abv in export markets.

[ralfystuff]

... thanks for clarifying that, ... reading the label on the DW box it states "a further FEW months maturation" (so I should have gone to Specsavers !!!)

... and those lucky export markets getting a superior Malt strength of 43%, perhaps Grants should export to Scotland.

[smsmmns]

"It doesn't linger, it doesnt' stay, it just goes away."

Lyrical, Ralfy.

[Tantrum777]

its strange sometimes its 40 and other times its 43 like teachers highland cream and I have seen others that change proof too.

I wish these single malts and blends would just stay at the same proof no matter what country they send it to.

[krakkajackson]

G'day Ralfy: I recently took a tour of The Glenora Distillery near my home in Cape Breton and and posted a video for you. It's just a few qucik clips which I've edited together so you could have a peek at the place. Very beautifal spot up in the highlands. Hope you like it and thanks for all the great review videos!!!!

[jhawk386]

My 750ml is 43%.

[djcelld]

i prefer the 1l double wood bottle!

1l bottle got 43%

0,7l bottle only 40%

[ralfystuff]

really ?

now that is interesting as the extra 3% alcohol in reality  means more flavour in the taste !!!

[djcelld]

thats right,

the 43% tastes little

better than the 40% version!

[GLACKEN82]

Very Good whisky,I was first made aware of balvenie from the movie...the day after tomorrow believe it or not.

[djcelld]

the last drop...

[ZICKUP]

good review keep up the work

[djcelld]

ohh, redesigned label?

[jhawk386]

LOVE this whisky. I was hoping you'd do a review on this eventually. Thanks.

[Gorkpunch]

excellent review

[ralfystuff]

NOTE - the bottle label on re-reading says "a few months' not two months in Sherry Wood.

... so the same but different.

[Ainsoff]

I hope you make a review for Clenlysh soon... yum!