Balmenach 8 Years (2013/2022) Barrique Finish - Best Dram
Balmenach does not have a core range. If you want to taste such a whisky, you have to resort to independent bottlings. Michel Reick - one of the best-known German independent bottlers of single malt whisky - has bottled a Balmenach with a 1st fill Banyuls barrique finish in the "Best Dram" series.
The panel
Mean 85.0 · spread 2
Value for money 4/5
- Distillery
- Balmenach
- Bottler
- Best Dram
- Type
- Single Malt
- Region
- Speyside
- Country
- Scotland
- Age
- 8 years
- Strength
- 54.2% ABV
- Character
- rich
Tasting
Nose
The nose of the 8-years Balmenach single malt is intense and immediately present. A clear note of ripe cherry jam immediately hits the senses, accompanied by deep nuances of fermented plums. A touch of heavy red wine and a hint of cane sugar round off the bouquet, while deep red wine gums add a sweet and tantalising dimension.
Palate
The first sip reveals a powerfully sweet flavour characterised by ripe fruit and subtle vinous notes. Dark wine gums provide a complex sweetness, while a pleasant warmth envelops the palate. A surprising sulphur note, reminiscent of rotten egg, adds an unexpected nuance.
Finish
The finish is extremely spicy and long-lasting, with a lingering sweetness that gradually gives way to a drier character. Dark chocolate remains.
Verdicts
Marcel
This Balmenach 8 Years reveals itself as a true character with its intense fruity sweetness and surprisingly dry finish, leaving you wanting more. The sulfur notes are divisive but also add intriguing edges and corners to the glass – not everyone’s cup of tea, but definitely an entertaining dram for adventurous connoisseurs.
Sascha
The Balmenach 8 Years Best Dram impresses with its balanced structure between sweet fruit aromas and a spicy, dry finish. Despite the distracting sulfur note, the complexity remains intact, while the barrique finish gives the whisky an interesting depth that fans of complex Speyside whiskies will particularly appreciate.
What it is worth
We do not yet hold bottle-level auction results — that sits behind Whisky Hunter’s authenticated feed. What follows is the market for Balmenach as a whole, which sets the weather for this bottling without pricing it.
Latest mean bid £144 across 26 lots · 2024-08