Balvenie 1974 SV

Overall rating
89.95/100
votes
46
Whiskybase ID
WB3954
Category
Single Malt
Distillery
Bottler
Signatory Vintage (SV)
Bottling serie
Vintage Collection - Dumpy
Vintage
19.12.1974
Bottled
07.1990
Stated Age
15 years old
Casktype
Oak Cask
Casknumber
18103 - 30
Number of bottles
2500
Strength
57.1 % Vol.
Size
50 ml 750 ml
Added on
08 oct 2008 4:11 pm
UncoloredCask Strength

Average value

€ 961.69

24 × in wishlist

46 × member ratings

73 × in collection

Whisky reviews for Balvenie 1974 SV

10 users have left 11 reviews for this whisky. Average rating is 89.95 points.

  1. DrunkDude scored this whisky 90 points Expert Senior

    scbp-5362, I don't think it's sherry cask whisky. This Balvenie shows a good distillation character, level and even compared to many random options in the 1970s, it can be called a very good and outstanding spirit. And this wine also gave me more confidence to explore wines like The Balvenie.
    • Nose
      90 90
      The top note has the aroma of pineapple and orange juice, which has a strong commonality with contemporary kittens, with a slight sense of dust, followed by salt water, salted fish, sun-dried wheat bran, star anise, green apple, white cardamom and dust. 90
    • Taste
      91 91
      The wine is rich in flavor, orange, pineapple juice, green apple, slightly star anise, fruit acid is abundant, and the concentration of fructose is not too much. After that, very light sea salt emerges, slightly peaty, presenting a rather crisp, echoing very light fennel breath again. Low-bodied and powerful, with a high concentration of flavors, 91
    • Finish
      88 88
      The saltiness is strong, the finish is slightly astringent, there is a little plant smell, a little bit of spiciness emerges, some absinthe numbness, the whole is in line with 57% alcohol. 88

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  3. OJK scored this whisky 93 points Expert Senior

    So much elegant fruit and wax, with evolving layers of sweet herbs, honey cake, and soft peat for added complexity. Hugely impressive and captivating.

  4. sengaia scored this whisky 93 points Expert Senior

    The nose is both intensely fruity and intensely waxy and very impressive. Given some time and a little water the waxiness retreats a little and allows the fruitiness to amplify further.

    The palate is even more intense than the nose and where this dram reaches great heights. It’s thick and oily, the fruit and wax remain but are are joined by honey and peppers. This reminds me a lot of some 1970’s Clynelishes. The finish is long on wax, honey and peppers.

    A stunner of a dram, at only 15 years old! I am happy to have tried it but also sad that it seems impossible to produce this style of whisky with modern methods and ingredients.

  5. Baanaanaabob scored this whisky 92 points Connoisseur

    waxy, fruity and distillate oriented, very good

  6. Nymph scored this whisky 95 points Member Senior

    Good, it’s not the first time we’re trying this legendary Balvenie, but it’s the first time I’m writing proper (hopefully) tasting notes. 15 years in wood plus 30 years in glass, that’s some set-up! Colour: light gold. Nose: pah-pah-pah! I had forgotten how great those vintages were, with these extra-phenols and honeys. It is a sublime nose, with lime tree blossom, pinewood ashes, thyme and lavender honeys, lemongrass, melissa syrup, beeswax, mirabelles and apricots indeed, camphor and tiny bandages… Oh well, this is all marvellous, and rarely to be encountered in any modern bottling. Not just at Balvenie! With water: a-s-t-o-u-n-d-i-n-g. Crème de menthe and almond paste, plus fresh putty and a touch of medlar. Mouth (neat): this is immense whisky, as huge as some 1972 Ardbeg – just one example – and yet almost totally unpeated. I’m saying almost because there is a little smoke around the corners. Burnt eucalyptus, or sauna stuff, perhaps. Otherwise, glorious citrons and lemons, bitterer waxes, and old-school Eastern herbal liqueurs. More or less. With water: please call the Anti-Maltoporn Brigade! Finish: long, fabulously waxy and citrusy. Eucalyptus-based cough syrup in the aftertaste. Comments: I used to have it at 91 but that was stingy. This is what’s missing today, complexity.
    • Nose
      94 94
    • Taste
      95 95
    • Finish
      95 95

  7. Gil firth scored this whisky 93 points Expert Senior

    Phenomenal whisky. Pure wax.
    Any review with less than 90 is unacceptable:)

  8. Gil firth scored this whisky 93 points Expert Senior

    Perfect. Wax, wax, wax, and fruits. Old style malt. Very rich.

  9. mackie_gm scored this whisky 93 points Member Senior

    Excellent whiskyfun review, both point & description wise:
    "Balvenie 15 yo 1974/1990 (57.1%, Signatory Vintage, cask #18103-18130, 1300 bottles, 75cl) Five stars
    Good, it’s not the first time we’re trying this legendary Balvenie, but it’s the first time I’m writing proper (hopefully) tasting notes. 15 years in wood plus 30 years in glass, that’s some set-up! Colour: light gold. Nose: pah-pah-pah! I had forgotten how great those vintages were, with these extra-phenols and honeys. It is a sublime nose, with lime tree blossom, pinewood ashes, thyme and lavender honeys, lemongrass, melissa syrup, beeswax, mirabelles and apricots indeed, camphor and tiny bandages… Oh well, this is all marvellous, and rarely to be encountered in any modern bottling. Not just at Balvenie! With water: a-s-t-o-u-n-d-i-n-g. Crème de menthe and almond paste, plus fresh putty and a touch of medlar. Mouth (neat): this is immense whisky, as huge as some 1972 Ardbeg – just one example – and yet almost totally unpeated. I’m saying almost because there is a little smoke around the corners. Burnt eucalyptus, or sauna stuff, perhaps. Otherwise, glorious citrons and lemons, bitterer waxes, and old-school Eastern herbal liqueurs. More or less. With water: please call the Anti-Maltoporn Brigade! Finish: long, fabulously waxy and citrusy. Eucalyptus-based cough syrup in the aftertaste. Comments: I used to have it at 91 but that was stingy. This is what’s missing today, complexity.
    SGP:562 - 93 points."
    (c) Serge Valentin 2019

  10. JasonWhiskyWise scored this whisky 88 points Expert Senior

    Bees / Candle wax, vanilla custard creams, peach cobbler, sweet malt sugars, a further sweet citrus note develops on the nose of satsuma mandarin, cardboard, the palate has a slight herbaceous note followed with a balanced waxy texture which is mouth coating. Nice Dram.

    Tasted at The Whisky Exchange Old & Rare Show 2021; Waxy Masterclass. (Dram No.1 of 6)

  11. Luigisim scored this whisky 91 points Connoisseur

    Sweet and balanced
    • Nose
      89 89
    • Taste
      89 89
    • Finish
      89 89

  12. hs305 scored this whisky 90 points Connoisseur

    [August, 2006]  Together with friends I emptied bottle no. 1364 that I bought for 103 Euro in February, 2004. 

    In my old rating system (ten scales that translate into WB points: 50 - 66 - 75 - 80 - 82,5 - 85 - 87,5 - 90 - 92,5 - 95) I scored it 90.  My notes state a very sweet and fruity profile that is nicely balanced and free of flaws.  The bottle was gone in one go...

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