I have been a big fan of Balvenie’s Portwood for a long time. It’s another one of those drams that really showcases the versatility of Balvenie’s honeyed house style in a variety of finishes. After maturing in ex-bourbon casks for 21 years, the whisky is transferred to port pipes for a finishing period before bottling. The US version is bottled at 43% compared to a 40% global release though I have recently acquired the non-chill filtered version from a duty free shop. You know, for science.
In any case, let’s find out why I love this stuff so much.
[table2 caption=”The Balvenie 21 Year Portwood – 43% ABV” colalign=”center|left”]
Category|Notes
Appearance|Light Amber
Nose|Deep and rich, red grapes, honey, layers of oak, slight nuttiness, leafy, hint of clove, mango? in the background, orange peel.
Taste|Prunes, woody, citrus, red berries, orange, a bit floral, oaky vanilla, baked apples, hints of wine notes
Finish|Stewed fruits, fresh mint, nutmeg, milk chocolate, almond. Wines notes and typical Balvenie honey remain for quite some time.
Overall Thoughts|It’s a grown up Balvenie without the wood-dominance that comes from the super aged expressions. This allows the sweetness and fruit to really shine through. A fantastic expression that shows some age while maintaining a certain level of softness and refinement.
Total Score|94/100
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