Balvenie 12 Year Old Signature

This bottle is from Batch #3, bought in late 2010.

Nose: The first aroma that hits the nose is the sherry, followed by spice. I'm pulling out honey and nectar, but not a lot. A good bit of heather and maltiness. The nose lets on that this will be a sweeter whisky than it turns out to be. This is not surprising, as the 12yr Signature has been matured in Oloroso Sherry Butts, First Fill Bourbon Casks, and Re-Fill Bourbon Casks.

Body: This whisky has a bit of weight to it. Medium body at least. Not too smooth as to be forgettable, but not "un-smooth."

Palate: The sweet notes hit about midway through the mouth, with the spices coming in up front. There is a bit of smokiness (or is that oak?), but not much. Lots of spice; not quite as much as the 14yr Caribbean Cask, but quite a bit more than the 12yr Doublewood or 21yr Portwood. This whisky is not overly sherried, but it does have a really nice nose and tip of the tongue sweetness.

Finish: The finish is medium-long, with a burst of spice coming through and aromas of heather and oak.

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