Balvenie Founder's Reserve 10 year...

**Macman** · 15th November 05, 12:04 PM

KCW, your timing is great. Last night after work I chose a dram from my bottle of Balvenie 10 years old. I totally agree with Robin; this is an excellent whisky. It is totally different than the more heavily peated whiskies from Islay and the Isle of Skye. Balvenie is made in Speyside, further east. I believe the distillery itself is right beside Glenfiddich, but I personally vastly prefer the Balvenie to Glenfiddich. It is beautifully balanced, not too sweet, not overly smoky or peatty. Given your tastes in wine, and that you generally don't drink hard liquour, I would say that the Balvenie is probably an excellent way to break into single malt whiskies. Then you'll be hooked, and then sampling all the variety that Scotland has to offer (including those delicious Islay malts!).

**jfellrath** · 15th November 05, 12:13 PM

I don't know how hard it is to find Balvenie in America as I'm only a foundling in the world of whisky, but my wife loves trying new whiskies and I was able to get her a bottle of her favorite, Bunnahabhain (that previously we never saw anywhere but in Scotland) at Hi-Time Wine Cellars (thanks again, Iolaus).

Here's the Balvenie...

**Iolaus** · 15th November 05, 05:06 PM

Originally Posted by jfellrath

I don't know how hard it is to find Balvenie in America as I'm only a foundling in the world of whisky, but my wife loves trying new whiskies and I was able to get her a bottle of her favorite, Bunnahabhain (that previously we never saw anywhere but in Scotland) at Hi-Time Wine Cellars (thanks again, Iolaus).

Here's the Balvenie...

You're Welcome.

...and on this page, you will find the rest of their Balvenie offerings.

One of my favorite whiskys is the Aberlour a'bunadh.

**bikercelt1** · 15th November 05, 05:46 PM

I recently discovered Bunnahabhain on the shelf here in Washington and I like it really well. It has some of the smokey/peat flavor but it's milder than the Laphroig. I also found Balvenie but I haven't tried it yet. It sounds like I need to though.

Jamie

**jfellrath** · 15th November 05, 06:07 PM

Originally Posted by bikercelt1

I recently discovered Bunnahabhain on the shelf here in Washington and I like it really well. It has some of the smokey/peat flavor but it's milder than the Laphroig. I also found Balvenie but I haven't tried it yet. It sounds like I need to though.

Jamie

It's much milder than the other Island single malts we tried - those tend to be peaty I think (I'm trying to remember...darned brain, anyway). I like it a lot, but I tend to like the peatier ones.

**Robin** · 15th November 05, 06:37 PM

Guys...use your nose!

Smell it!...the alcohol will numb your taste a bit...to enjoy a good malt...use all your senses...see the colour, see how the liquid "hangs" in the glass, smell it! taste it! feel it! and even when the glass is empty (always a sad moment

) the smell is there! close your eyes...never hurry...enjoy it to the max!

I'm a still a noob with kilts (shame on me!), but I've 25+ years malt under my belt (burp!)

Drink beer...or whatever...experience whisky!

Enjoy!

**KiltedCodeWarrior** · 15th November 05, 07:58 PM

Thanks all! While I am new to this, based on your excellent feedback I have decided that I could do worse than to start with the Balvenie. So I did buy it and tried it. The first dram was almost enough for me to swear off any hard liquor forever! However, I think that was because I just "dove" in to the experience without savoring it. I did not "mellow" it with water, and the intensity of the taste (and fire of the alcohol content) left me gasping. After re-reading some of your posts, I decided to go with the purified water approach, although I did not see any details on how much water to how much whiskey. So I decided to start with about a 40% water/60% whiskey combo. Much improved! I still do not get much of a "nose" from it, but I am fighting a sinus infection and suffer from allergies anyway, so I am not surprised. However, the taste and flavors that were overpowering before are now complex and interesting. I am not sure what all I am tasting, but cut with water the Balvenie is a pleasure to take a sip and just hold in the mouth and experience the flavors.

My Dad is coming over for Thanksgiving next week and I look forward to sharing it with him.