Balvenie Caribbean Cask Aged 14 Years Single Malt Scotch, 70cl

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I admit, I am completely enamoured with the Balvenie Caribbean Cask 14-year-old single malt whisky. It has a rich, tropical flavour profile that is highlighted by the rum casks in which it is finished. Its notes of vanilla, coconut, and dried fruit make it a delight for any whisky enthusiast looking to experience something truly unique.

Master distiller David C. Stewart has developed an intriguing blend of West Indian rums to be stored in American Oak casks prior to being filled with Balvenie. The end result is nothing short of sublime, offering whisky drinkers an exotic experience like no other! Finish: Sugarcane again, only mildly sweet, with ginger and lime zest. Short and simple, but pleasant and with no disturbances. A surprising effect is that after a minute, you feel you are exhaling cocoa powder through your nose. He built Balvenie 1892. It shares its water source, the Robbie Dhu springs, with Glenfiddich. It has gone from strength to strength, becoming one of the most prestigious distilleries in the world. William Grant and Sons also own Glenfiddich and Kininvie Distillery. In 1892, work commenced on Balvenie New House, an 18th-century mansion, to transform it into a distillery, and a year later, in May 1983, the first Balvenie single malt was distilled.We deliver to a number of international destinations including the USA. Please use the 'Change Location' link above for an estimate in your local currency or find out more about international delivery Too bad that Pierce got more screen time, which also happened with Balvenie. Dryness wins barely, but just enough to earn under 80 points from me. Nose: Very fruity, with Speyside flavours dominating. Raisins, plum, banana, green apples, strawberry jam, cream, tiramisu, cinnamon and nutmeg. Time brings out more depth, with barley, honey and sugar cane creeping in. And thanks to @ WhiskyBee for recommending this. His review recommends substantial breathing time, so I have allowed a small sealed sample breath for a couple weeks:

The Balvenie 14 Caribbean Cask is bottled at 43%. A fairly unique whisky, it has spent atleast some time maturing in ex rum casks. How long is anyone’s guess, it isn’t mentioned on the bottle. This used to be a bit of a bargain in the UK, now not so much. A glass of this remarkable whisky truly offers something special – an unbeatable combination of complexity and smoothness that will leave you wanting more! It can be enjoyed neat or with ice depending upon personal tastes, but however, it’s served this extraordinary single malt Scotch whisky will provide you with an unforgettable experience every single time! It’s no surprise that the folks at Master of Malt say: “This is also a single malt with the ability to convert a non-whisky drinker with its deliciousness…” As it certainly did that to me. Balvenie Caribbean Cask vs Doublewood: The Comparison The Balvenie Caribbean Cask 14 year old single malt whisky has been matured in traditional oak whisky casks for 14 years, and then ‘finished’ in casks that previously held Caribbean rum. They age the whisky for 14 years in traditional oak casks and then finish it off in casks that used to contain Caribbean rum. I do like a good rum from time to time so this was quite appealing to me and I was expecting some extra sweetness and fruity notes.

This whisky is in fairly good balance but it ends up being too flat, especially from the nose. With a finish nicely long, which just doesn’t match my taste. This Balvenie gives a warm feel of Caribbean, but not in the best way. It is like watching After the Sunset. Offers sweet spots like the beautiful scenery or appearings of Salma Hayek in the film – just to be died down by too much dryness, like Pierce Brosnan’s dry behavior on the silver screen. Holy spicy! Honey, sugar and caramel sweetness abound. Wow… With water, the fruit comes forward a lot. The spicy sweetness doesn't go ANYWHERE though. This whisky is seriously liquid dessert. I've had Balvenie 14 Caribbean Cask finish from a variety of sources, including a full bottle, which I did not previously review. The current review is being made primarily from a sample provided thanks to @ jonathan. This is a whisky finished in Rum casks Nose: Honey, vanilla, and malt dominate, with touches of apples, raisins, wood, and bitter tea. A wonderful, ever-evolving nose. The multi-award-winning Balvenie Distillery in Banffshire is famous for being the only distillery in Scotland to retain the traditional core crafts of whisky production. Nowhere else will you find a distillery that still grows its own barley, still malts its own traditional floor maltings and still employs a team of skilled coopers to tend all the casks and a coppersmith to maintain the stills.

Tropical fruit salad drizzled with orange juice. Spicy hints, creamy caramel toffee and bits of oak and ginger. Hits of wood and vanilla. Full-bodied and rich. Balance: very nice overall balance. Rum sweetness goes well to balance Balvenie citrus. Score: 22/25The Balvenie Doublewood 12 was my introduction to the world of whisky – so it will always hold a special place in my heart. Plus, its versatility makes it an excellent choice for almost any occasion or celebration — ranging from casual drinking nights with friends to intimate dinner parties. Palate: At first fruity just like the bouquet. The raisins and plums arrive fruits followed by bananas, cherries and a sweet vanilla custard. The rum influenced caramel, milk chocolate and muscovado sugar add to the sweetness as it starts developing. Mid palate the wood starts coming into play and dries out the palate a bit which I found nice after the initial sweetness. The rum really hits it stride as it enters into the finish, which is moderate to long in length. Along with the rum there’s also notes of vanilla, sweet brown sugar and touches of oak. And the mouthfeel is slightly dry but full bodied and creamy.

Finish: Sugar cane subsides to a creamy vanilla. It trails off with only a medium length finish, but the end of each sip is quite satisfying, especially after a meal or with a cigar. (Generally, I like my cigar scotches to have a hint of coffee to them, but this one does not and it works great with a stogie.) The finish lingers on for a while, medium, and the roasted elements come to the forefront. Like the scrapings of a burnt toast of brown bread left for too long. Harmony: yes, this works, mostly from the balance of sweetness from rum cask balanced against sour tartness of barley citrus. Score: 22/25 Distilled from 100% malted barley, The Balvenie then ages this Scotch for 14 years in ex-Bourbon barrels. From there, it is dumped into Caribbean rum casks where it rests for an unpublished amount of time. The Balvenie simply calls it “extra matured.”But I found the Doublewood delicate and not as complicated as I was expecting. The nose was creamy and delicious, but the palate did not quite live up to the promises the nose made. I have to note that this is the start of the Balvenie range and a great way to start exploring the distillery. This 14-year-old single malt Scotch whisky is crafted using Balvenie’s traditional floor malting techniques as well as only using their own home-grown barley – something that’s rare in Scotland these days. I first tasted The Balvenie Caribbean Cask at a Scotch tasting along with five other finished whiskeys. The Balvenie was one of my two favorites of the night and I wound up buying both shortly thereafter. In Scotchland (see what I did there?), The Balvenie Caribbean Cask is a standout and absolutely earns a Bottle rating. BRAND NOTES