Balvenie 17 Year Old Peated Cask

I had the opportunity to sample the Balvenie Peated Cask 17 YO at the LCBO tasting tower yesterday. I've heard mixed reviews about this particular label, so I thought I would judge it for myself! These are some of my thoughts:

Nose: Very astringent! Has almost a chemical smell to it, like nail polish remover or paint? Very subtle peat on the nose.

Taste: Very disappointed! Especially considering the high ticket price here in Ontario ($162). The peat is very weak. I felt that the peat was hiding the true essence of Balvenie's true taste. Keep in mind that I sampled this whisky with no water. The taste was a bit rough, and did not seem balanced, and tastes very young on the palate.

Complexity: Not very complex. No oomph! Very boring!

Finish: Very short and blah. I normally enjoy the lingering finish of a fine malt. I savour the complexity, the nuances, etc. With this whisky, I couldn't wait to chew some gum to get the unfavourable taste from my mouth!

Overall, this is a highly over priced whisky for what you get.

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