Scotch

Review: The Balvenie Fifty Collection First Edition 50 Year Old

Jeff Whisky samples The Balvenie Fifty Collection First Edition, celebrating 50 year of craftsmanship at The Balvenie Distillery.

OVERALL RATING

9
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Tasting Notes

About:

This is the first installment in The Balvenie Fifty Collection, celebrating 50 years of craftsmanship at The Balvenie Distillery. This 50 Year Old whisky was matured in a European oak refill butt for 50 years and bottled from single cask #8720 at 52.3% ABV.
Appearance:
Close to mahogany in colour with a thick viscosity leading the beads of malt to drip slowly down the glass.
Nose:
Instantly hit with a strong aroma of hazelnuts and rich cocoa powder. Plenty of dark juicy fruit notes such as cherries and blackberries coming through with some tantalizing spices. Warming apple pie and strawberry jam are also present in this thick aroma.
Palate:
A remarkable creamy and rich texture which shows no sign of the higher 52% abv. Dark chocolate follows the nose with sweeter almost chewy notes of marshmallows and toffee swirling in the mouth. Subtle notes of orange and honey roasted cashew nuts leave each sip asking for more.
Finish:
A deep long finish with plenty of slight bitter oak holding in the mouth for an age after each visit. On the final exhale there is a sweetness tied in with ginger and cinnamon with a fresh close to peppermint finale.
Comments:
While a long maturation doesn’t guarantee a greater product, this whisky certainly embraces the softer notes of age while retaining plenty of dynamic flavours to explore. This is an “experience whisky” which I am grateful to have enjoyed and savored.

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.

Pete "Jeff Whisky" Jeffery

Based in the South West of the UK, Jeff brings an irreverent and laid-back approach to whisky reviewing, dispelling any notions of snobbery surrounding the spirit. With a genuine enthusiasm for exceptional drams, he often embraces the whimsical side of whisky. Jeff's tongue-in-cheek whisky content has earned him recognition in the Malt Whisky Yearbook, and he has contributed articles and reviews to numerous whisky platforms.

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