Balvenie has history when it comes to double maturation, having brought the practice of cask finishing to prominence the 1980s. So, it’s perhaps no surprise that this 14-year-old single malt became an instant classic. After an initial maturation in ex-bourbon barrels it was finished in Caribbean rum casks, which imparted a rich creaminess to the whisky’s hallmark honeyed character. There are aromas of candied lemon, toffee and ripe bananas on the nose, complemented by notes of fresh pineapple and salted caramel, underpinned by stewed orchard fruits. This is a wonderfully complex-yet gentle dram.