Alright let's get into this Balvenie 21 PortWood tasting. Honestly, buying this bottle felt like a big deal. Wrapped it up and told myself, "This is for something special." Just staring at the box makes you feel fancy, you know?
The Setup
Cleaned my favorite Glencairn glass good and proper. I like the Tulip shape because it traps the smells better. Popped the cork – that satisfying little thwup sound never gets old. Poured a decent measure, maybe a finger and a half. The color hit me first – deep, warm gold, like liquid honey catching the light. Really rich looking stuff.
Sticking My Nose In
Gave it a gentle swirl first, let those legs slowly crawl down the glass. Time for a good sniff. Didn't rush it. First thought: dried fruits, raisins and figs mostly. Like opening my grandma’s Christmas cake tin. Hiding under that was something sweet and thick, definitely honey. Not like fake syrup honey, but the real sticky kind. After a minute or so, I caught this soft oaky vanilla smell, warm and cozy. Didn't get much of the Port wine right away, it was like a whisper behind everything else.
The First Sip Test
Took a small sip first, just to coat my mouth. Felt surprisingly smooth and soft. Nothing harsh at all. So I went for a proper mouthful, held it for a few seconds. Tasted that fruitcake vibe again, raisins and candied peel. Then the honey came back strong. The smoothness was impressive – like velvet. Let it sit, and yeah, there was that hint of port sweetness underneath, maybe dark berries or something jammy. Made things interesting.
What Happened After
Swallowed it down. Super long finish, man. The sweetness faded slow, and the oakiness lingered. Felt this gentle warmth spread out. Honestly, it felt richer than I remembered when I tried it years ago. Really coats your mouth. Went back for another sniff after adding a drop or two of water. Wow! Totally opened up. More of those red fruit Port notes jumped out, the honey got bigger, and the vanilla oak rounded everything out. Water is your friend with this one.
What I Figured Out
This bottle lives up to the hype, mostly. What stands out:
- The texture is crazy smooth. Silky feeling the whole way through.
- The honey and dried fruit thing? Totally real, not just marketing.
- That old Speyside oak vanilla feel gives it a solid base.
- The Port influence – you gotta look for it, add water to help find it.
It's not some slap-you-in-the-face strong whisky. It's complex, really refined. Takes its time. Definitely a whisky to savour, not shoot. Worth experiencing for yourself if you ever get the chance, especially if you add that tiny splash of water to let it breathe. Leaves a memory that hangs around, just like the taste.
