September 29, 2015

New Balvenie Tun 1509 vs. 25 SB

The new ‘Tun’ is here. We’ll have it ‘against’ the newish 25 SB, which is a little lighter, so we should first have the latter, but as the former might be younger, we’ll have that one first. Are you following me?...

Balvenie 'Tun 1509 - Batch No.2' (50.3%, OB, 8500 bottles, 2015)

I’m calling this ‘smart NAS’. A blend of 32 casks of various ages and wood types. Well, 23 American oak and 9 sherry. I thought last year’s batch no.1 was excellent (WF 90). Colour: gold. Nose: in my book, Balvenie means mirabelles, and there certainly is some mirabelle in this, as well as apricots and acacia honey. Feels more or less like 15 years old on average, if I may, but I’m probably wrong. A few raisins and a few flowers as well, and three mint lozenges, and a drop of Sauternes. Must be the apricots. With water (not that it needs water): a wee whiff of young armagnac, with a faint grapiness, and the rather overripe apples and bananas. Which can be very Balvenie as well. Mouth (neat): very, very, very Balvenie indeed. Apricots, mirabelles, sultanas, plus a touch of cardboard, perhaps, which isn’t a problem at all. A wee feeling of old sweet wine that got dry after many years in its bottle. A touch of aniseed and fennel, perhaps. With water: swims like a champ. Oranges coming through, as well as more honey. Finish: long, a little mentholated, with more mirabelles, apricots, and apples. Citrusy aftertaste, with tannins. Comments: feels a little younger, but that’s not a problem at all. Bright and very well composed, I don’t see why I’d change my humble score. SGP:551 - 90 points.

Balvenie 25 yo 1989/2015 (47.8%, OB, Single Barrel, cask #1864, 300 bottles)

A 500€ bottle, so more or less twice the price of the new Tun 1509 if I’m not mistaken, but there's much worse elsewhere. Everything is up! Colour: straw. Nose: Balvenie au naturel, rather light, a wee tad sugary (sugarcane syrup), with some banana and some mirabelles again, plus acacia honey (again) and a few fresh almonds. A very fresh, pleasantly lightish nose that I would even call ‘summery’. Develops on lightly cooked tarte tatin and custard, I’d say. Mouth: it’s well a very natural Balvenie, with little oak influence, and plenty of plums and custard, plus the faintest touch of rubber (nothing awkward). The age doesn’t feel at all, this could be twelve, fifteen, or twenty. No, not thirty. Finish: medium to short and rather light, with a little cider, mead, and simply sweet malt. A little cinnamon cake in the aftertaste. Comments: very good! But I preferred Tun #1509, which I found rather more complex. Nah, that’s got nothing to do with prices, cross my heart. SGP:551 - 87 points.

Check the index of all Balvenie I've tasted so far