Balvenie TUN 1509 Batch 2 50.3% NV

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Serge Valentin (90)

Balvenie 'Tun 1509 - Batch No.2' (50.3%, OB, 8500 bottles, 2015) I’m calling this ‘smart NAS’. A blend of 32 casks of various ages and wood types. Well, 23 American oak and 9 sherry. I thought last year’s batch no.1 was excellent (WF 90). Colour: gold. Nose: in my book, Balvenie means mirabelles, and there certainly is some mirabelle in this, as well as apricots and acacia honey. Feels more or less like 15 years old on average, if I may, but I’m probably wrong. A few raisins and a few flowers as well, and three mint lozenges, and a drop of Sauternes. Must be the apricots. With water (not that it needs water): a wee whiff of young armagnac, with a faint grapiness, and the rather overripe apples and bananas. Which can be very Balvenie as well. Mouth (neat): very, very, very Balvenie indeed. Apricots, mirabelles, sultanas, plus a touch of cardboard, perhaps, which isn’t a problem at all. A wee feeling of old sweet wine that got dry after many years in its bottle. A touch of aniseed and fennel, perhaps. With water: swims like a champ. Oranges coming through, as well as more honey. Finish: long, a little mentholated, with more mirabelles, apricots, and apples. Citrusy aftertaste, with tannins. Comments: feels a little younger, but that’s not a problem at all. Bright and very well composed, I don’t see why I’d change my humble score.

BOW (90)