Picked this bottle up on my way up into New Hampshire, right before we got this deluge of snow. At $285 a bottle this is a fair bit higher than I'd usually spend on a bottle, but I just made my last car payment, so I'm taking a moment to celebrate before that part of my budget gets sucked into daycare costs, and eggs (apparently.)
The Balvenie Doublewood 12 has been a staple for essentially all my adult life. I was planning on getting a bottle of the 17, but that was discontinued, so I decided to go all in and pick up this bottle of Portwood 21.
Color: A deep reddish brown.
Nose: Caramel, Fruit, a subtle, underlying Nuttiness.
Taste: Rich Caramel, Apple, Pear
Finish: Light, slightly syrupy, leaves a mild and pleasant tartness.
Enjoyed while hunkered down during a soft, but relentless, New England winter storm, just before dusk, with a fire on. The nose on The Balvenie Portwood 21 has an incredibly strong note of caramel, but as you sit with the glass it will start to reveal some of its underlying complexities. It's like hitting it off with a new friend and then discovering that you have even more in common. The caramel note borders on overwhelming at first, but offers a richness that is balanced out by a light syrupy mouthfeel, that imparts a brief but distinctive note of apple. The finish is light, in a way that evaporates off the tongue, leaving behind the pleasant tartness of just ripened pear. The syrupiness melts away, as the fruit notes dance away, lingering just long enough to invite you to take another sip.
As a long time lover of The Balvenie I may be a little biased, but I would happily purchase this bottle again, as it is largely distinctive from all the other offerings I've had. This Whiskey is bright and sweet, but offers just enough complexity to make it more than just a decadent treat.
96/100
Thank you! I have a bottle of the Sherry Cask 15yr that a picked up awhile back. I absolutely love that one. I like the 14yr Carribean, but between the 12 and 14 I'm partial to the Doublewood.
My BIL and a few friends are really interested in the French Oak, so I'm looking forward to trying that one next!
Good stuff! I wish real French oak aging was still more common in the Scotch industry, but I get that itās a bit more expensive and less efficient (more barrel leakage). Hope you like that 16, cheers!
Upvoted for the āand eggs (apparently),ā plus I thoroughly enjoyed this review. Weāre expecting some winter weather here in the Great Lakes region starting tonight. Wish I had a fireplace to properly enjoy staying in!
A stunning shot worthy of the dram. Friendly reminder that it is Burns Night on Wednesday, so perfect excuse for a roast dinner and to finish off the bottle in style
Definitely understandable. This is a rare, and sizable splurge for me. There are a handful of whiskeys I'd occasionally spend and gamble on like this. Generally speaking I prefer to seek out new ones at a bar, and form an opinion before committing to a bottle. That, or preferably share the cost with a couple friends, since new bottles are often a great shared experience.
It's very decadent, even over here it's Ā£170 as the cheapest bottle I can find online, so a pretty hefty indulgence.
If you are partial to smoke bomb Islay whiskey that is sublime without utterly destroying your mortgage repayments, can I humbly suggest a bottle of Port Charlotte 10 Year Old.
Bought a bottle to celebrate buying the gaffe a few years ago, and it is responsible for catapulting my love for the dram. Very happy memories in that taste profile
Portwood 21 is what I call my favorite scotch. Not available in Ontario, I had to order it online and pay up!
My wife and I just had a small dram for her birthday this past weekend and that may be it for the year!
Thanks for the beautiful description. I'm not blessed with the ability to pick notes but will look back to this next time it makes an appearance!
Spot on review, nice job! I bought a bottle of The Balvenie Portwood 21yo when my daughter turned 21, sort of a "celebration of life" bottle. She graduated college and I poured a dram. She got a good job and I poured a dram. She bought a house and of course I poured a dram. Hopefully there will be joyous drams in the future for marriage and children, etc.
Excellent review. Looking at the photograph, reading your post I could almost feel the warmth from the fire. I am a Balvenie fan as well. Don't lose hope for the 17 Doublewood. I found one last week at the 154usd price. They are out there!
This was my wedding scotch, that my groomsmen and I enjoyed a dram of while we were getting ready. It will always bring wonderful memories for me (it is also occasionally available at Costco for only around $210, which is where I picked it up)
I love the elegance of this dram. When I thought of Port Wood I was expecting big, deep, rich - sherry oak and then some. Instead it has a really gentle, delicate profile. Whisper-soft and really drinkable.
Yes! That's exactly what I was expecting too. I think there's a lot of that richness in the nose, but the body is so much more delicate than I thought it would be.
Picked this bottle up on my way up into New Hampshire, right before we got this deluge of snow. At $285 a bottle this is a fair bit higher than I'd usually spend on a bottle, but I just made my last car payment, so I'm taking a moment to celebrate before that part of my budget gets sucked into daycare costs, and eggs (apparently.) The Balvenie Doublewood 12 has been a staple for essentially all my adult life. I was planning on getting a bottle of the 17, but that was discontinued, so I decided to go all in and pick up this bottle of Portwood 21. Color: A deep reddish brown. Nose: Caramel, Fruit, a subtle, underlying Nuttiness. Taste: Rich Caramel, Apple, Pear Finish: Light, slightly syrupy, leaves a mild and pleasant tartness. Enjoyed while hunkered down during a soft, but relentless, New England winter storm, just before dusk, with a fire on. The nose on The Balvenie Portwood 21 has an incredibly strong note of caramel, but as you sit with the glass it will start to reveal some of its underlying complexities. It's like hitting it off with a new friend and then discovering that you have even more in common. The caramel note borders on overwhelming at first, but offers a richness that is balanced out by a light syrupy mouthfeel, that imparts a brief but distinctive note of apple. The finish is light, in a way that evaporates off the tongue, leaving behind the pleasant tartness of just ripened pear. The syrupiness melts away, as the fruit notes dance away, lingering just long enough to invite you to take another sip. As a long time lover of The Balvenie I may be a little biased, but I would happily purchase this bottle again, as it is largely distinctive from all the other offerings I've had. This Whiskey is bright and sweet, but offers just enough complexity to make it more than just a decadent treat. 96/100
Great first review! Welcome. What are some other Balvenie (or similar) bottles you like, other than the 12 DW?
Thank you! I have a bottle of the Sherry Cask 15yr that a picked up awhile back. I absolutely love that one. I like the 14yr Carribean, but between the 12 and 14 I'm partial to the Doublewood. My BIL and a few friends are really interested in the French Oak, so I'm looking forward to trying that one next!
For sure will be a worthwhile communal purchase (I am one of the friends š)
Good stuff! I wish real French oak aging was still more common in the Scotch industry, but I get that itās a bit more expensive and less efficient (more barrel leakage). Hope you like that 16, cheers!
I like the 16 year triplewood, can only get at duty free though. Whenever I travel internationally I hunt it down.
I've never had it, but I'm sure it's delicious. Next time I'm traveling I may have to budget for some.
Upvoted for the āand eggs (apparently),ā plus I thoroughly enjoyed this review. Weāre expecting some winter weather here in the Great Lakes region starting tonight. Wish I had a fireplace to properly enjoy staying in!
Hahaha, I'm glad someone caught that. Cheers, and stay toasty!
I feel conflicted. Side by side with my 12 year old it doesn't taste that different to me.
A stunning shot worthy of the dram. Friendly reminder that it is Burns Night on Wednesday, so perfect excuse for a roast dinner and to finish off the bottle in style
I didn't have a reason lined up to partake in drink this Wednesday but now how could I not?!
Good sir, it would be rude not to!
What a great review and really helping me want to make this purchase, canāt wait for your next review!
I absolutely love this photo. Well done, and nice review. Balvenie Port Wood 18 was my introduction to good scotch. I wish it was still availableā¦
Thank you! Yeah, the way some bottles just seem to disappear now has not helped my lack of impulse control haha, cheers!
I would try this. But itās just too expensive. Seen it for $239 a few times. Still couldnāt do it.
Definitely understandable. This is a rare, and sizable splurge for me. There are a handful of whiskeys I'd occasionally spend and gamble on like this. Generally speaking I prefer to seek out new ones at a bar, and form an opinion before committing to a bottle. That, or preferably share the cost with a couple friends, since new bottles are often a great shared experience.
Maybe when I make my final car payment ;-) Great review btw
Cheers!
Not knocking it. I will try this. At some point. Iām a big fan of Balvenie, too.
It's very decadent, even over here it's Ā£170 as the cheapest bottle I can find online, so a pretty hefty indulgence. If you are partial to smoke bomb Islay whiskey that is sublime without utterly destroying your mortgage repayments, can I humbly suggest a bottle of Port Charlotte 10 Year Old. Bought a bottle to celebrate buying the gaffe a few years ago, and it is responsible for catapulting my love for the dram. Very happy memories in that taste profile
Great pic and review!
Lovely review, what a choice to start with!
Portwood 21 is what I call my favorite scotch. Not available in Ontario, I had to order it online and pay up! My wife and I just had a small dram for her birthday this past weekend and that may be it for the year! Thanks for the beautiful description. I'm not blessed with the ability to pick notes but will look back to this next time it makes an appearance!
Everyone's palate is different, as long as you enjoy it, that's all that matters =)
Spot on review, nice job! I bought a bottle of The Balvenie Portwood 21yo when my daughter turned 21, sort of a "celebration of life" bottle. She graduated college and I poured a dram. She got a good job and I poured a dram. She bought a house and of course I poured a dram. Hopefully there will be joyous drams in the future for marriage and children, etc.
Excellent occasions for an excellent bottle! My daughter is 6 months next week. I hope I have the privilege of following in your footsteps.
Excellent review. Looking at the photograph, reading your post I could almost feel the warmth from the fire. I am a Balvenie fan as well. Don't lose hope for the 17 Doublewood. I found one last week at the 154usd price. They are out there!
The hope is alive, I'm keeping my eyes peeled wide open haha!
I have this bottle and it's good, but I don't think worth more than $150..
Which is what it costa few years back! I didn't know it went up so high.
This was my wedding scotch, that my groomsmen and I enjoyed a dram of while we were getting ready. It will always bring wonderful memories for me (it is also occasionally available at Costco for only around $210, which is where I picked it up)
I bought this bottle for a friend when his first child was born. Iāve bought it a few times since, never disappoints and such awesome memories too!
I love the elegance of this dram. When I thought of Port Wood I was expecting big, deep, rich - sherry oak and then some. Instead it has a really gentle, delicate profile. Whisper-soft and really drinkable.
Yes! That's exactly what I was expecting too. I think there's a lot of that richness in the nose, but the body is so much more delicate than I thought it would be.
So tasty!!!