Balmenach 2004 13yo (Douglas Laing Old Malt Cask)

This is a Douglas Laing Old Malt Cask bottling of Balmenach, distilled in 2004 and bottled in 2017 at the standard Old Malt Cask 50%, with no chill filtration or colouring.

This is a series of blind tastings from the “The Scotch Whisky Advent Calendar 5th Edition” advent calendar. I do not know what is in the calendar, so every one of these reviews is 100% no prior knowledge.

1. Macduff 2003 14yo (Single Cask Nation)
2. Wemyss Wooden Chest
3. Lost Distillery Company Auchnagie Classic
4. Glen Moray 2008 9yo #5764 (Secret Spirits)
5. Craigellachie 12yo 2006 Cask Strength (Secret Spirits)
6. Exclusive Malts Islay Sherry Cask (Laphroaig)
7. Adelphi Breath of Speyside 2006 (11yo)
8. Balmenach 2004 13yo (Douglas Laing Old Malt Cask)
9. Glen Moray 2007 10yo (A.D. Rattray)
10. Royal Brackla 2006 11yo (Secret Spirits)
11. Wemyss Delicious Burst
12. Lost Distillery Company Stratheden Classic
13. Auchinderom - Peated Glenglassaugh (Malt Whisky Company)
14. Knockdhu 2009 9yo (A.D. Rattray)
15. Caol Ila 2009 9yo (Secret Spirits)
16. Wemyss Nectar Grove
17. Glentauchers 2008 10yo (Secret Spirits)
18. Glenallachie 2009 9yo (Secret Spirits)
19. Williamson (Laphroaig) 2005 13yo (A.D. Rattray)
20. Stones of Stenness Orkney Aged 18yo (Single Cask Nation)
21. Inchgower 1995 21yo (Hunter Laing Old Malt Cask)
22. Towiemore Archivist (Lost Distillery Company)
23. North British 1988 30yo (A.D. Rattray)
24. Inchmurrin 1996 21yo (Secret Spirits)
25. Glen Grant 1988 30yo (A.D. Rattray)

---

Distiller: Balmenach
Bottler: Old Malt Cask (Douglas Laing)
Distilled: 2004
Bottled: 2017
ABV: 50%
Age: 13yo
Cask type: ex-Bourbon
Source: The Scotch Whisky Advent Calendar 5th Ed.
Setting: Blind

---

Nose: Mild honey, nutmeg, leafy, cornbread, some clear bourbon influence. Golden syrup, mothballs.
Palate: Heat, chalky honey, some floral character.
Finish: Finishes medium to short with very mild honey, vanilla and chalk.
Overall: This is a whisky that is very influenced by its bourbon cask, to the point of being a little uninteresting. There’s some interesting notes here and there, but most of the interest seems to come from the Bourbon cask. I would not purchase a bottle of this.
Rank: 4