Sweet and rich dark plum notes surround gentle caresses of vanilla and cinnamon. Raw sugar cane adds sweetness to the whole ordeal. Wonderful nose. The combination of Balvenie Doublewood’s smooth malt flavour and hints of fruitiness is perfectly complemented by the tartness from the lemon and herbaceous notes provided by the mint. It also has balance; neither too sweet nor too tart. Nose: Quite light. Sugarcane and under-ripe nectarine, then some unsalted butter intensifying with time. Overall clean and fresh, not spicy. Today I look at a side-by-side comparison of two releases from the Balvenie Distillery. The Balvenie Caribbean Cask vs Doublewood whisky. Comparing different distilleries side by side is fun, but I find that the most interesting comparisons are the ones between other releases from the same distillery. The Balvenie Caribbean Cask 14 year old single malt whisky has been matured in traditional oak whisky casks for 14 years, and then ‘finished’ in casks that previously held Caribbean rum.

Sherry sweetness mixed with oak, honey and vanilla with mild nutmeg and cinnamon spice at the end. Bits of dried fruit and nuts. Not as complex as I expected. Medium body. Bits of oak intertwined with sherry. Fresh grapes and red berries and spices with vanilla. Rich and inviting.Balvenie 14 yrs Caribbean Cask's balance and taste are fairly good ones but the nose was too flat and the finish, though long enough, just didn't match my taste...so that's why this Balvenie was like watching After the Sunset. Getting excited every time the sweet Salma Hayek appears just to be died down by Pierce Brosnan's dry behaviour on screen.

The Balvenie 14 Caribbean Cask is bottled at 43%. A fairly unique whisky, it has spent atleast some time maturing in ex rum casks. How long is anyone’s guess, it isn’t mentioned on the bottle. This used to be a bit of a bargain in the UK, now not so much. Balvenie launched the Caribbean Cask 14 yo to mark the 50th anniversary of David Stewart joining the Balvenie distillery. It is part of the Balvenie core range. To create The Balvenie Caribbean Cask (43% ABV), single malt whisky is first matured in traditional oak whisky casks for 14 years before being finished in ex-Caribbean rum casks. A unique expression of The Balvenie, Malt Master David C. Stewart MBE fills American oak casks with his blend of select West Indian rums. Once ready, the rum is replaced with the 14-year-old spirit, and the rum-infused wood imparts the final touches to this unique whisky. The nose needs some time and a bit of water to open, after which deliciously clean, fresh, vanilla- and citrus-infused malt emerges. A light milk chocolate note as well. Really gorgeous. Ripe red and green grapes, mango, the rum comes through a touch but also some port, and caramel in the mix as well.That being said, my first love will always win out and that’s Balvenie Doublewood 12-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky. A full-bodied beverage with layers of honeyed sweetness, spice, vanilla, and oranges — all balanced perfectly to create a truly flavourful and complex experience.

Palate: Sweet and metallic on entry. Ever-so-light buttery toffee, and then the sugarcane sparkles: saccharine but without the sweetness, perhaps like starfruit... or maybe silvery stardust. Finish: Sugar cane subsides to a creamy vanilla. It trails off with only a medium length finish, but the end of each sip is quite satisfying, especially after a meal or with a cigar. (Generally, I like my cigar scotches to have a hint of coffee to them, but this one does not and it works great with a stogie.) Palate: Pretty much what the nose led me to expect, with some toffee, cake, and peppery spices now in the mix. Like all the sweet, warm goodness of your corner bakery in a single mouthful. A long, chewy taste also brings out a touch of lime in the dead center of my tongue -- a nice refreshing touch of tartness that keeps things from becoming too syrupy-sweet. Finish is very smooth, with malt dominating and spices lingering. Not the slightest trace of bitterness in the entire experience.The Balvenie whisky distillery, located in the Speyside region of Scotland, has been producing quality single malt Scotch whiskies for over 125 years. Founded by William Grant & Sons in 1893, the mission was to produce a ‘water of life’ with a distinct taste and character that would be appreciated by whisky enthusiasts everywhere. The Balvenie Caribbean Cask and the Balvenie Doublewood 12 year old are two incredibly unique whiskies that offer a different yet equally enjoyable experience. The Caribbean Cask is a limited edition offering created using West Indian rums stored in American oak casks prior to being filled with Balvenie, while the Doublewood is their signature whisky crafted using barley grown in their own fields and refill American Oak casks. When he judged the casks to be ready, the rum was replaced with the 14 year old spirit and the wood was put to work adding the final touches.