Balvenie Single Malt Scotch Whisky, stemming from the heart of Speyside, is a harmonious blend of tradition and craftsmanship. Renowned for its dedication to the time-honored methods of whisky production, Balvenie offers a range of expressions matured in different casks, each unveiling its own distinct character. With notes ranging from honeyed sweetness to spiced oak, Balvenie is a celebration of malt mastery and the passion that goes into every drop.
Introduced in 1993, the DoubleWood 12 was birthed from a method pioneered by The Balvenie's Malt Master, David Stewart, in 1982—a technique now widely recognized as 'wood finishing'.
To craft The Balvenie DoubleWood, David Stewart MBE begins with whisky aged for at least 12 years in traditional whisky containers, consisting of American Oak ex-bourbon barrels and hogsheads. This is subsequently transitioned to Spanish oak ex-Oloroso sherry casks, where it remains for an added nine months.
Following this, the whisky is shifted to large oak receptacles, known as "tuns", for a period spanning 3-4 months. This crucial step allows the distinct whiskies from separate casks to seamlessly "marry" together.
Owing its unique profile to maturation in dual wood types, The Balvenie DoubleWood single malt whisky imbibes varied attributes at each phase. The conventional casks infuse it with a subtle, delicate character; the sherry wood imparts depth and a rich flavour palette; and the concluding stint in the tuns ensures a harmonious blend of the whiskies.
Tasting Note by Balvenie:Nose: Sweet fruit and Oloroso sherry notes, layered with honey and vanilla.Palate: Smooth and mellow with beautifully combined flavours ~ nutty sweetness, cinnamon spiciness and a delicately proportioned layer of sherry.Finish: Long and Warming.
The Balvenie Caribbean Cask 14 Year Old single malt whisky begins its journey aging in traditional oak casks for 14 years. It is then finished in casks that previously held Caribbean rum. Malt Master David C. Stewart MBE prepares these casks with a blend of West Indian rums, which are later replaced by the aged whisky, allowing the wood to impart its final characteristics.Each bottle of this whisky comes with a complimentary Balvenie Tumbler.
Tasting Note by Balvenie:Nose: Rich, sweet and creamy toffee on the nose combines with fresh fruit notes.Palate: Rounded with vanilla and sweet oak notes, with a fruity character that develops with time.Finish: Soft and lingering.
Inspired by the desire to create a fruitier and sweeter iteration of Balvenie, Apprentice Malt Master Kelsey McKechnie embarked on a novel experiment. She introduced Virgin Oak barrels from Kentucky and subjected them to a deep toasting process at The Balvenie Cooperage. These barrels were then filled with Balvenie whisky previously aged in ex-bourbon barrels. The outcome is a remarkably intricate whisky brimming with notes of candied fruit, coconut, and delicate vanilla.
The Balvenie Distillery is built upon the narratives passed down through generations of craftsmen to their successors. The Balvenie Stories range, featuring three distinct whiskies, serves as a testament to these tales of character, dedication, and artistry.
Each whisky crafted by The Balvenie encapsulates a human story, evolving alongside its protagonists and unfolding unforeseen dimensions over years of maturation. It's a celebration of the enduring craft and tradition that defines The Balvenie.
Tasting Note by Balvenie:Nose: Lusciously malty with some sweet fudge, followed by citrusy and oak vanilla aromas with layers of spicy oak notes of ginger and cinnamon.Palate: Candied orange and lemon peel, vanilla toffee and butterscotch, layers of blossom honey, some melted brown sugar and oak spices at the end.Finish: Rich and malty with gentle waves of oak vanilla and subtle spices.
Driven by a desire to explore new dimensions within The Balvenie's flavor profile, distillery manager Ian Millar drew inspiration from a recent visit to Islay. He ordered a batch of Speyside peat for the kiln, marking a significant departure from the distillery's traditional methods. During one week each year, The Balvenie distills a batch of peated malt, resulting in a whisky enriched with honeyed, vanilla, and citrus notes, adorned with an intriguing layer of delicate smokiness.
The Balvenie Distillery finds its essence in the stories shared from one generation of craftsmen to the next. The Balvenie Stories collection, comprising three unique whiskies, pays homage to these tales of character, determination, and craftsmanship.
Each whisky brought to life by The Balvenie encapsulates a human narrative, evolving in tandem with its protagonists and revealing unforeseen twists as it matures over the years. It's a celebration of the enduring craft and heritage embodied by The Balvenie.
Tasting Note by Balvenie:Nose: Gentle sweet peat smoke, lighter floral notes and delicate butterscotch honey.Palate: Velvety and round to taste with the peat smoke balancing citrus flavours, oaky vanilla and blossom honey.Finish: Gentle smoke with a lingering and creamy vanilla sweetness.
Inspired by Ian Millar's interest in peat following his visit to Islay, The Balvenie's "Week of Peat" epitomises 17 years of meticulous monitoring to harmonise peat perfectly with the distillery's signature flavours of honey, vanilla, and citrus, enriched with a subtle smokiness. This expression is part of "The Balvenie Stories," a trio of limited-edition whiskies that encapsulate tales of craftsmanship and tradition, emphasising the distillery's commitment to age-old, hands-on methods and storytelling through each unique batch of single malt, made from home-grown barley.
Tasting Note by Balvenie:Nose: Subtle peat smoke, heather, orange peel and light tropical fruit, with light butterscotch and sweet vanilla.Palate: Velvety and round to taste with the peat smoke balancing citrus flavours, oaky vanilla and blossom honey.Finish: Gently smoke with a lingering and creamy vanilla sweetness.
The Balvenie PortWood 21 Year Old single malt whisky is a result of a unique process where a blend of rare Balvenie whiskies is transferred to port casks, often referred to as pipes, that have previously cradled fine port wines.
In this stage, The Balvenie Malt Master David C. Stewart MBE regularly samples the whisky to ensure just the right amount of character is infused by the port casks. This process enhances and matures the single malt while preserving its original characteristics.
Regarded by many as David's magnum opus, this whisky stands as one of his most cherished achievements, having garnered numerous prestigious industry awards since its debut in 1996.
Tasting Note by Balvenie:Nose: A perfume of fruity and ripe raisin notes, backed by a nutty dryness.Palate: Refined with remarkable character, it is creamy and silky with fruit, honey and spice notes.Finish: Long, gentle, nutty.
The Balvenie French Oak stands as a vibrant single malt whisky that has undergone a finishing period in casks previously cradling wine sourced from the renowned French Charentes vineyards.
Pineau des Charentes, a fortified wine, is crafted by blending unfermented grape juice with Cognac eau-de-vie, followed by a maturation process. This distinctive wine is also crafted as a homemade product in the neighboring Deau-Sevres and Vendee regions.
The inspiration for this exploration into French Oak casks came from a suggestion by The Balvenie USA brand ambassador, Lorne Cousin. He urged Malt Master David C. Stewart MBE to consider these casks after a visit to the region with his family, where he fondly remembered savoring an aperitif.
This release marks The Balvenie's initial foray into the realm of French Oak. Pineau, resembling Cognac both in production and flavor, allows them to leverage the growing popularity of this flavor profile, complemented by its premium standing.
Tasting Note by Balvenie:Nose: Beautifully balanced light floral notes from lotus and geranium flowers dance between hints of fresh meadow grass and pealed apple skin.Palate: An energising zing from tangy lemon rind and grapefruit meet the delicate subtle sweetness of glazed fruits and spice from root ginger.Finish: Refreshingly concise.
Malt Master David C. Stewart MBE orchestrates a seamless union of individual casks, each having matured in Traditional American and European Oak. This meticulous blending process results in an extraordinarily intricate and harmonious expression, showcasing the artistry and expertise of Single Malt TUN marriages.
The Balvenie 25 Year Old Rare Marriages emerges as a whisky of unparalleled character, offering tantalizing hints of The Balvenie's most coveted flavours—robust vanilla oak, crystallized ginger, and lusciously sweet, flowing honey.
Tasting Note by Balvenie:Nose: Soft autumn fruits, runny honey, crystallised ginger and raw sugar cane. An underlying rich oakiness creates complexity and structure.Palate: The initial bold vanilla oak flavours slowly dissipate to reveal layers of toasted marshmallows, fresh fruit and cinnamon infused apple tart.Finish: Exceptionally long-lasting sweetness
The Balvenie Stories 19 Year Old Revelation of Cask & Character celebrates the craft of coopering, using the finest oak barrels from Speyside and Jerez. Overseen by Head Cooper Ian McDonald, this whisky is part of the limited edition Stories Collection, reflecting Balvenie’s rich 125-year history. Aged in European oak oloroso sherry casks, it embodies the dedication and expertise that define Balvenie, with a long-lasting finish that is characteristic of their single malts.
Tasting Note by Balvenie:Nose: Intense ripe fruits and caramelised orange peel reveal beautifully toasted oak and milled barley.Palate: Bold and balanced, flavours of currants, cherries and raisins give way to chewy fig, rich cacao and a creamy nutty finish.Finish: Long and lingering.
These casks were part of David Stewart's initial experiment to finish The Balvenie in French Pineau casks. After a few years, the results were not as expected, so he explored using a different source of Pineau, resulting in the creation of French Oak 16. However, this batch continued to age in the original casks and was discovered by Kelsey after 8 years in Pineau. She found they had developed into something remarkable.
Tasting Note by Balvenie:Nose: Warming amber tones from toasted oak and delicate spice are immersed by smooth butterscotch and hints of ripe berries.Palate: Intriguing layers of spice and rich sweetness layer on creamy vanilla and honey before revealing gentle oaky tannins.
Originally set aside to become a 12 year old single barrel, this whisky was found to have developed a subtle smoky flavour upon tasting, due to being distilled immediately after peat week, even though the barley used was unpeated. It matured for 14 years in some of Balvenie's finest bourbon casks.
Tasting Note by Balvenie:Nose: Velvety sweetness, rich toffee and smouldering oak reveal crisp citrus aromas and ever flowing honey musk.Palate: Candied orange peel is grounded in woody, earthy flavours from beautifully roasted malt and deep vanilla oakiness.
The Balvenie and LINLEY have joined forces to celebrate the artistry of enduring British craftsmanship with a bespoke gift set designed for those who value heritage, design, and exceptional quality.
At its core is The Balvenie Thirty from The Rare Marriages Collection. A whisky of unparalleled depth, its silky sweetness reveals layers of rich honey, mellow oak, and subtle notes of candied orange peel.
Completing the set is LINLEY’s Evolution serving tray, handcrafted from the finest European calfskin with brushed bronze handles, paired with the iconic LINLEY curved whisky tumbler, hand-blown in England using the finest crystal and featuring a bespoke design inspired by The Balvenie.
Tasting Note by Balvenie:Nose: Smooth and honeyed on the nose with mellow oaky tones and hints of candied orange peel.Palate: Great depth with rich dark chocolate, hints of plum, marzipan and caramelised pear.Finish: Exceptionally smooth and warming with gentle spice and lingering sweetness.
