Balvenie Tun 1509 Batch No.1 – 70cl 47.1%

Balvenie Tun 1509 is the follow-up of the distillerys success story Balvenie Tun 1401 which was released in nine batches between 2010 and early 2014. To create the first batch of Tun 1509, David Stewart, Malt Master at Balvenie carefully selected 42 of the finest casks 35 traditional American oak barrels and seven European oak sherry butts from the distillery’s precious aged stocks. All were transferred to Tun 1509, which sits in Warehouse 24, for several months before bottling in a rare interpretation of the marrying process. All 42 casks come together to create a unique expression of The Balvenie thats greater than the sum of its constituent parts. Nose: honeyed, with elegant fruity notes. Oranges, apricot jam, some yellow raisins. A little unripe mango. Soft beeswax. Underneath is a subtle resin note, citrus blossom and old oak. Something vaguely earthy. Gentle but still in line with Tun 1401. Palate: orange peel at first, then nutmeg and a clear oaky side. Warming cedar oak and tobacco leaves. Soft pepper, ginger and clove. Just enough grapefruit to make it brighter again, but on the whole it feels a little thin and (bourbon-y) oaky. Finish: long, with a subtle bitterness of rhubarb and orange peel. Still some wood spices and waxy notes.