The Balvenie 30-Year-Old Speyside Single Malt

Nose: Has kept its character wonderfully, with a real mixture of varied fruits. Again the smoke is apparent, as is the panting oak. Astonishing that the style should have been kept so similar to previous bottlings. Taste: Big, full delivery first of enigmatic, thick barley, then a gentle eruption of controlled, warming spices. Finish: Much more oaky involvement but such is the steadiness of the barley, its extraordinary confidence, no damage is done and the harmony remains. Balance: Rarely have I come across a bottling of a whisky of these advanced years which is so true to previous ones. Amazing. Score - 92. (Jim Murray, Whisky Bible, 2014)