Balvenie 30 YO Thirty 2004 Bottling

Colour: gold, just a bit darker. Nose: ah, this new one is even sweeter, with an extra-dimension: tropical fruits! Lots of tangerine, quince jelly, apple (Calvados), apricot jam, mirabelles… Yummy! Other than that, it’s in the same league as the 25yo, with quite some vanilla cream, honey, wild flowers… Less woody, too. A part of it makes me think of the fruitiness of the Bowmores from the 60’s. Most enjoyable, but with a little less vivacity than in the 25yo. Mouth: again, a very creamy and extremely honeyed first mouth feel, with lots of quince and apricot jam. Perhaps some traces of sherry? It then grows quite bolder than the 25yo, and also more peppery and woodier. Hints of mango sauce. Lots of vanilla too… Again, it’s not too complex but hugely enjoyable, with its long, creamy and honeyed finish. I like it just as much as the 25yo, and perhaps even a little more, so let’s go for 90 points this time. Thanks, Martine.