Balvenie Tun 1509 Batch 2

I had been no less than 4 years since I last tried the Balvenie Tun 1509. I thought that was great. By now even the 6th batch has been released. But allow me to try the second one. The tun 1509 is four times the size of the famous run 1401. This second batch, which appeared in 2015, was created with 23 American oak casks and 9 European sherry casks. I wonder if David Stewart – by now enjoying his pension – outdid himself again.

Oranges and mandarins is the first thing I detect, drenched in dark honey. That is followed closely by lots of nuts, wild flowers, apricots in their own juice and a note of vanilla. Hints of gooseberries with a pinch of white pepper and some ginger. Pretty zesty, in fact. After a few moments, some apple sauce appears. After breathing for a while, it even sports some barley sugars and a salty note. Very nice, complex and inviting.

Beautifully creamy on the palate. Again the oranges come first, but after the second sip the apricots, mirabelles and sultanas rear their heads. Next to ginger and white pepper, I also get cinnamon and a bit of salt. Maybe even some quinine. Hint of tobacco leaves. Lightly bitter, but the fruit dominates.

The finish is long, warm, spicy and almost syrupy. Honey and citrus until the end, but the oak has the final say.

Very good stuff. Just as good as the first batch. You can still find it, but it will set you back some 300 EUR.

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