Balvenie Tun 1401 Batch 3

This is the US release, Batch #3. First review. In the short time that I have been a member here, I keep hearing the mantra "Drink now, don't hoard." I am, however, a hoarder at heart. It's this voice telling me, "You may never find this again. It's been discontinued! It's rare! Save it!" So against all your sound advice, I had no intention of cracking open this bottle.

I bought it last weekend en route to a friend's house for a party. He was not a big whisky drinker at all, but I was so excited about my purchase that it rubbed off, and he wanted to try it. And so we did.

The next day was bittersweet. I had half a bottle of the best whisky I have ever drank, and all I could remember is "It's good!" But, at least the bottle was open. So, let's try this again. Nose: Baklava. Faint notes of bourbon and vanilla. Floral. Candied orange peel. Taste: Raw honey sucked straight through the comb - That waxy paraffin note is there for sure. Mouthfeel is thick and rich, leaving my tongue pleasingly numb. Wax and honey burn slowly all the way down. So much raw honey! Some bitterness in the finish that begs for another sip.

I asked rhetorically, is this whisky worth the price tag? 250.00 in the US. Well, I have 2 more bottles on the way. Had I not cracked this open with friends, I never would have known how good it was, and would have very much lamented not buying more when I had the chance. Is it f'ing worth it? Are you worth it? Am I worth it? Yes. Yes we are.

Fantastic expression I hope every whisky anorak gets to try. This is by far the best Balvenie I have tasted in 25 years of drinking single malt. Dark gold in color N: wonderful dark fruits (plumbs, red grapes, ripe blue berries), old leather and wood (I love this scent), beeswax P: Smooth velvety mouth feel, dreamy sherry, figs, vanilla, light smoky floral notes F: Long old oak, warm sherry, light spice, toffee, nuts, dark chocolate, walnuts...WOW!

After the success of batches 1&2 (see my notes on the 2nd) , comes the third batch (actually there’s a fourth batch already in some duty free shops worldwide, I’ve seen one on my way back from Heathrow a few months ago. If you are not familiar with the term, Tun 1401 : basically it’s a special vatting of hand picked casks by the Balvenie malt master David Stewart, which are then all poured manually into a big tun made of wood, and then given a few months to blend and “marry” as we like to call it, before bottling it. Casks chosen for the vatting this time are 7 bourbon casks and 3 sherry casks ranging from 1967 to 1989, This batch is available only in the USA.

If you recall Batch #2 was excellent and sold like hot buns (and boy am I glad I have ordered one faster than lightning). Batch #3 I am told also sold well and that is no surprise. I’ve gotten a wee sample sent over and I really am sorry I am only now posting my notes, but as they say, better late then never. So here goes:

The Balvenie Tun 1401 Batch #3 , 50.3% ABV Nose: Very appetizing nose with wood. A lot of it. some pine leaves, wood resin , eucalyptus and plenty of wood spices. Continuing with biscuits and nuts and hint of sherry as in dry fruit. Palate: Big palate. Rich thick malt and lots of wood, chilly. Dark chocolate and raisins dipped in rum.Spicy and cracking with woody goodness. Finish : Spicy and also bitter sweet with cocoa; dipped dry fruit as in a distant memory.

Bottom line:

This is an excellent dram. period. How does batch #3 compare to batch #2, you ask? Well, it’s clear they have a lot in common although I believe that batch #3 is drier and the dried fruit are less pronounced there. It’s spicier than the second batch. If you ask me, I prefer batch #2, but you can be sure than batch #3 is an excellent dram and matches previous batches in quality.David Stewart has done an excellent job in picking those 10 casks. If you can get a bottle somehow, buy it. I do think it’s a great Balvenie, and they do not come any better than that.