The Balvenie 12 years Doublewood

Score: 61

The Balvenie 12 Year Old DoubleWood landed squarely in third place, a respectable showing, but hardly a standout. It was the run-of-the-mill offering for the evening: familiar, safe, and sweet. The kind of dram that whispers rather than sings. Its profile is dominated by honeyed notes, with gentle layers of vanilla, dried fruit, and soft spice from its dual maturation in ex-bourbon and Oloroso sherry casks. There’s no denying its craftsmanship—it’s smooth, well-integrated, and easy to drink. But for a club tasting, it felt like the whisky equivalent of a polite nod: pleasant, but not memorable. Some members have warmed to it over time, appreciating its approachability and consistency, but it’s still regarded as a “safe Scotch”, the kind you’d pour for a newcomer or keep on hand for casual sipping. It’s not trying to be bold or experimental, and that’s both its strength and its limitation. In a lineup chasing complexity and character, Balvenie 12 was the middle child, neither mocked nor marveled at. Just quietly doing its job.