The Balvenie Stories Collection - A Day of Dark Barley 26 Year Old

Nose: At first glance, this basically noses like Pop Rocks (sweet, acidic, gummy, and tempting). Give it a little time (but just a few moments), and you’ll get so much more. You’ll pickup on the rich honey so consistent with the Balvenie brand. At times, it reminds me of ginger candy, dried mango, and flavors in that sphere. Sweet (super so), gummy, and sharp like ginger and mango. Fascinating!

Palate: Lots of great intense sweetness—dried mango, rich honey, combined with an intense oak spice. That thick sweetness turns to dark chocolate, croissant buttery, and a medley of dried fruits. I can’t get over how ‘heavy’ this drink is on each and every sip. Dusty barnyard notes are there, but ever-so-subtle. The zest and spice carries through to the finish, but the sweetness fades quickly. You’re left with a buttery cinnamon note that begs for another sip.

Conclusion: Even considering the list of older scotches I’ve enjoyed, I’ve not tasted anything like this. It doesn’t remind me of any other single malt. It’s sweet, but it has the heft to it that works wonderfully. There’s a spice that balances it all out. This is still Balvenie through and through, but it’s amped up in flavours, and the perfect dram among close friends.