New Release: Balvenie Official TUN1509 Batch Number 3 52.2%

After some time, this TUN exemplifies the ideal of non-age statement whisky. Balvenie BALVENIE OB TUN1509 Batch No.3 52.2% The aroma features apricot jam, tree sap, plum, dried fruits, a subtle herbal and leather note, a robust yet refined barley character, oak, and pronounced spices like cinnamon and clove. The flavor begins with a surprisingly smooth mouthfeel, expanding into rich, concentrated fruitiness reminiscent of jams and sweetness, followed by bitter chocolate, tree sap, a strong body, pleasant astringency, and the same spices as the aroma. The finish is long and satisfying. [Very Good, Interesting] This is the latest release of Balvenie's official bottling series, TUN1509 Batch 3. The TUNS entering Japan have shifted from TUN1401 to TUN1509, and with this change, the mature sherry character has become more subdued, with younger bourbon cask nuances taking center stage. While this is still delicious in its own right, I had felt a certain emptiness from the lack of sherry influence. However, this release has met my expectations. As described in the tasting notes above, a diverse range of elements from well-matured sherry and bourbon casks are seamlessly present in both aroma and flavor. The Balvenie signature, a rich, sap-like concentration, is also clearly expressed. There's no bitterness, depth, thickness, and a well-balanced flavor profile. Indeed, it's impressive. When I previously introduced TUN1401, I spoke passionately about its qualities. It was refreshing to once again strongly feel the concept of utilizing the advantages of non-age statement bottling. Moreover, compared to TUN1401's old sherry with astringency, this release uses a sherry cask that isn't as old and lacks significant astringency, achieving balance through flexible cask selection. In fact, it seems they truly have exceptional casks. This has left me eagerly anticipating the next batch. By the way, I recently heard an interesting story about this TUN series from Mr. Tsuchiya of the Scottish Whisky Research Institute. Originally, William Grant & Sons' single malts—namely Glenfiddich, Balvenie, Kininvie, and Ailsa Bay—are vat-matured in large barrels called 'marring tun' before bottling, even if only for a short period. Given the scale of their distilleries, they require an enormous number of these marring tuns. Though I've forgotten the exact number, it's clear they have a substantial quantity. Interestingly, some of these tuns are said to produce particularly exceptional results. The TUN series seems to be built around selecting special casks, vatting them in these exceptional tuns, and then releasing the result. TUN1401 was the pioneer of this approach, and it appears that TUN1509 also falls into this category of tuns known for producing exceptional results. The series has many mysteries, such as why TUN1401 was numbered that way and why the next one is 1509. It's refreshing to finally have some of these mysteries explained. Additionally, considering that TUN1401 was released in quick succession over a period of about 2-3 months, it's likely that the vatting period is around that duration. #Balvenie (BALVENIE)