Hart Brothers Balmenach 10 years Virgin Oak

Score: 73

Balmenach 10 Year Old (Hart Brothers) is a cask-strength Speyside single malt, matured in bourbon casks before a Virgin Oak finish. This secondary maturation amplifies the whisky’s natural richness, adding layers of spice and toasted sweetness. Bottled at 58.6% ABV, it delivers a bold yet refined experience. The nose presents honey, caramel, and chamomile, leading into a palate of sweet vanilla custard, pepper, and burnt candied peanuts. The finish is long and rich, with lingering hints of fresh mint. CLUB TASTING NOTES "Nose takes time to unlock and doesn't quite get past a simple sour impression - BUT the palate is something special with intense citrus fruits of orange, passion fruit, eventually lemon, and rolls on nicely into the finish. A couple drops of water removes any astringency and bask in the citrus and grassy notes." "Takes a while to settle because of the virgin oak, but once you give it space, it takes you to another world.."