Golden honey with fine, silky legs. Noticeably darker in hue than Batch 2. Deep amber tones with fine, silky legs.
Initially bright off the pour with iodine notes. The nose opens to show off sweet and fruity tones, most notably mandarin oranges with golden raisins and honey. As the dram opens further, there are oaky tones joining the fray. Not as abrasive off the pour as Batch 2. Cinnamon rolls with buttercream icing, mandarin oranges, raisins, followed shortly by a subtle charred oak and the slightest hint of cigar smoke. Layered very nicely.
Exactly as the nose suggested. A little bitey. Big, bold, sweet notes of mandarin orange, honey, and cinnamon raisin bread with butter. The transition into the finish is brassy and bright. There is a flare up of a burn initially which then settles into a sweet and smooth butterscotch candy aftertaste. Final Thoughts and Score: This is a fun ride of a dram, I must admit, if a tad uneven. Between this and Batch 3, I would say this one is the novelty tuxedo-print t-shirt to Batch 3’s silk bow tie and platinum cufflinks. There is a lot going on, and that is not always a compliment. The dram can at times feel frantic and overly excitable, which is a bit of a shame. Ambitious to a fault, Batch 2 is swinging for the fences. I may be in need of my own tun for mixing any further metaphors. Tasting Notes: The Balvenie Tun 1509 Batch 3 Vital Stats: 52.2% ABV (104.4 proof), no age statement, 100% malted barley, limited release available around $400-$500 per 750 ml bottle depending on availability. Appearance: Noticeably darker in hue than Batch 2. Deep amber tones with fine, silky legs. Nose: Not as abrasive off the pour as Batch 2. Cinnamon rolls with buttercream icing, mandarin oranges, raisins, followed shortly by a subtle charred oak and the slightest hint of cigar smoke. Layered very nicely. Palate: Wow. The layers here segue flawlessly. Loads of cinnamon toast, spiced plums, mandarin orange, golden raisin, ginger candy, and soft wisps of pipe smoke. Though the alcohol by volume on this batch is slightly higher than on Batch 2, the finish is far more rounded and full without providing nearly as much of a bite. Notes of rich toffee lingering long after the swallow. Marvelous. Final Thoughts and Score: Batch 3 is an absolute ripper from The Balvenie. This dram delivers a fully-formed experience that highlights the flexibility which skillful cask blending offers. There is a level of finesse in Batch 3 that takes the greatest themes of Batch 2 and polishes them to a mirror shine. If this were a regular release, my personal bottle would never run dry. Should you find you are lucky enough to be eyeing this label in person, do yourself a solid and give it a spin. I find it hard to imagine that it could disappoint. Editor’s Note: Samples of these whiskies were provided to us by those behind them. The Whiskey Wash, while appreciative of this, keeps full independent editorial control over this article.
