The Balvenie has always been credited as being one of the pioneers of cask finishing – refilling whisky into a different cask type for the final stages of maturation. The Balvenie French Oak 16 Years joins an already established line-up of cask-finished single malts.
When I say “joins […] a line-up”, I should say it has been part of the distillery’s range for nearly three years now. You might be familiar with some of Balvenie’s other finished whiskies, such as the 14-year-old Caribbean Cask, the 21-year-old PortWood and the classic 12-year-old DoubleWood. That’s not bad company for the Balvenie French Oak 16 Years to be in.
The moniker French Oak is only part of the story. It’s not just finished in casks from French oak. These casks previously held Pineau des Charentes. This quintessential French aperitif is made from grape juice and Cognac. We’ve seen it used in Scotch whisky before, but not often.
Balvenie French Oak 16 Years (47.6%, OB, 2024)
Nose: Immediate orange-y and other citrus notes, as well as plums, a slight floral touch, a good amount of honey and apricots. There are also some hints of sultanas and tinned peaches. Very attractive, I’d say.
Taste: The honey note continues to stand tall, seemingly even contributing to a pleasant viscosity. Dark caramel too, almost burnt, evoking hints of charred oak. Then a good amount of ripe fruits, some quinces, cloves and white pepper, maybe even a touch of wormwood. Finally whiffs of elderflower, while the sultanas make an encore.
Finish: Medium length. Somewhat bitter and slightly oak-forward, before the sweeter notes take over.
Photo: Delias Whiskyshop
