Sunday 17 February 2013

Whisky Discovery #305

Bally Delicious 23 Year Old Master of Malt (54% abv D:10/03/1989)
Speyside Single Cask Malt Whisky
£59.95 70cl (only available from Master of Malt)
A 23 Year Old, mostly from The Balvenie distillery
Bally Delicious? This is a twenty three year old single cask blended malt whisky from Master of Malt's Single Cask series. It was distilled on the 10th March 1989 and comes almost entirely from one very famous Speyside distillery, though it was "spooned" with a small portion of whisky from a nearby distillery and thus cannot be called single malt.

The Balvenie distillery is owned by William Grant & Sons Ltd and is one of the few remaining independent distilleries in Scotland today. However, William Grant & Sons also own the Glenfiddich Distillery and the lessor known Kininvie distillery, all three are neighbours and 'spooning' prevents single casks being sold as single malts for independent releases. You'll have to search very hard to find independent single cask releases from any of these distilleries

There are just 288 bottles of the stuff, drawn from refill hogshead on the 26th November 2012.

Tasting Note by The Chaps at Master of Malt
Nose: Plums, drifting wood smoke and apple and pear crumble, becoming more floral with time in the glass, or with water.
Palate: A soft silky mouth-feel with notes of chocolate mousse and a development of caramelised pears.
Finish: An oaky finish with a little salt and notes of black coffee.

So What Did We Think?

The nose immediately invites you in with sweet and creamy aromas, baked apples and pears with Demerara sugar melting on the top, there's some fresh oak and spice and a light malty biscuit note. A lovely floral bouquet develops after a little time in the glass. Fabulous stuff!

The baked pears come through on the palate too, wonderfully smooth and soft mouthfeel which develops a light peppery spice which complements the pears nicely.

It finishes with some spicy wood giving a little chili pepper heat which fades quickly leaving a light salty note. This one does exactly what it says on the tin, while remaining tactful and without the use of 'common' language, it is indeed bloody delicious!

Want one? Best be quick as there was just 288 bottles filled. check out Master of Malt 23 Year Old Bally Delicious

1 comment:

Gal Granov said...

haha!
just as i said on my tweet a few days ago : should have been named Bloody Delicious! it certainly is!