The Balvenie – 30 Year Old Rare Marriages (75cl, 44.2%)

The Balvenie 30 Year Old Rare Marriages is a Speyside single malt from The Balvenie Distillery in Dufftown, bottled at 44.2% in a 75cl bottle. Malt Master David C. Stewart MBE married the whisky from traditional American oak and European oak casks in a marrying tun after 30 years of maturation. The distillery describes it as the sweetest, most honeyed expression of the Rare Marriages range, and it has natural colour. The nose is smooth and honeyed, with mellow oaky tones and candied orange peel. On the palate there is rich dark chocolate, plum, marzipan and caramelised pear. The finish is smooth and warming, with gentle spice and lingering sweetness.