Taster

Nose: Elegance personified. Rich and soft with peach, fudge, red fruits (cherry especially) and a tiny cough of smoke. Sexy stuff.

Palate: Very soft and quite sweet: acacia honey, red fruit and a gorgeous silky feel.

Finish: Orange peel.

Comment: Finishing is all about striking a balance. Here, the port just nudges the spirit into a new space but never dominates. Classy.

Score: 8.8

Taster

Nose: Rich, creamy, malty.

Palate: The maltiness becomes creamy, then honeyed, then develops raisiny notes (Scottish black bun) and nutty dryness. An inviting, seductive dryness.

Finish: Bitter black chocolate.

Comment: This expression beautifully highlights the qualities of The Balvenie as a whisky that is full of rich flavours yet gentler and less robust than, for example, Glenfarclas or The Macallan.

Score: 8.8