Whiskey of the Month #10: The Balvenie Doublewood, 12 Years Old

The second whiskey in our Italian Job, this month's stolen dram (once again courtesy of Father Cigar) is none other than The Bavenie's Doublewood, aged 12 years old.  Movie buffs or major, major fans of The Day After Tomorrow will undoubtedly recognize the Doublewood as the whiskey used by Ian Holm and company to give one final, melancholy toast before they all freeze to death on their island somewhere in Scotland.

This one is called the Doublewood because it's aged in two separate casks.   The majority of the aging (per the label) is done in oak casks- but an extra few months are tacked on at the end in an oak sherry cask--  which makes the Doublewood a bundle of interesting flavors.

(Geography time, kids:  Balvenie is a Speyside whiskey...  check out the map at the link so we can start learning our whiskey regions-   there might be a quiz later, so study up and sample freely.)

Color: Golden (this is about as golden as whiskies come.  Can't describe this one as honey or amber or any other shade of gold.)

Body: Notes of honey and vanilla form the underlying sweetness of the whiskey--  appropriately enough, the oak is evident and adds a nice spicy aftertaste.

Palate: This is an interesting one...  it's light on the tongue and yet it's got a full, rich kick to it that almost puts me in mind of an Islay--  the spice is so evident, it's almost smokey, in a way.  Molasses and  a hint of the fruit  (for some reason I keep tasting just a hint of banana) that the label promises dance on the tongue.

Finish: The spice comes on strong--  maybe a little too strong but then it finishes nicely with a gradual warming sensation that's very pleasant indeed. 

Overall:  Balvenie's Caribbean Cask is on my wish list and I'd drink this again- but I think double the wood doesn't necessarily equal double the pleasure with this one.  The complexity of the flavors makes this an intriguing drink but the oak adds a spicy, almost smokey kick that's almost overwhelming- which is a shame, because I think there's a lot underneath that could added another layer to this already complex whiskey.