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 12 Year Old Aberfeldy is a delightful spirit, presenting a sweet honey touch intermingled with notes of fruit, spices, ample vanilla, and a faint wisp of smoke. Its intricate flavor profile results from maturing in a diverse assortment of Sherry, Bourbon, re-fill, and re-char casks. An interesting aspect of its aging process is the 'Angels' Share', which refers to the portion of whisky that vanishes during its time in oak casks, with nearly one-third of the Aberfeldy 12 Year Old being lost before bottling. This exceptional whisky, known as the Golden Dram, has received global recognition, clinching over 150 Gold Medals from leading spirit competitions.
Tasting Note by Aberfeldy: Scented with spiced and honeyed plump fruits and syrupy with lots of vanilla, fudge and just a whisper of smoke on the finish.
This 14 year old whisky, first aged in Bourbon casks since May 26, 2009, was transferred to Ruby Port Hogsheads on November 17, 2020, for its final 3-year maturation. It is a limited release, celebrating Feis Ile 2024, showcasing a unique profile with 11 years in Bourbon casks followed by a finish in Ruby Port casks. This unpeated Islay whisky features an ABV of 58.7%, is non-chill filtered, and has no added colour, highlighting its natural quality and craftsmanship.
Tasting Note by Bunnahabhain:Nose: Initial burst of dark chocolate which fades to reveal toasted oak, cherries, plums and raspberries, with a hint of carmelised walnuts.Palate: Spicy but sweet, with cinnamon and nutmeg intertwined with pain au chocolat, redcurrants, pomegranate and sweet malt.Finish: Lingering finish with cocoa and spice.
Inspired by the tradition of tasting straight from the cask in the distillery’s coastal warehouses, this annual limited-edition release presents Bunnahabhain in its purest form. Matured for 12 years on the north-eastern shores of Islay, the whisky is unpeated and shaped by the maritime climate, clear spring water, and a careful selection of Oloroso sherry casks.
For 2025, Master Blender Julieann Fernandez has chosen a combination of predominantly second-fill Oloroso casks, balanced by first-fill and refill, creating a nuanced, distillate-led profile. This edition places emphasis on balance and layered complexity, with subtle sherry influence complementing rather than dominating the robust Islay spirit.
Tasting Notes by Bunnahabhain:Nose: Golden raisins and apricots with toasted nuts and a light floral note.Palate: Malty sweetness, soft oak and dried fruit with sultanas, hazelnuts and gentle spice.Finish: Oak spice and light tobacco, with a touch of sea salt and cocoa powder.
What sets this whisky apart is its meticulous craftsmanship and the added luxury of spending over nine years finishing in first fill Oloroso sherry oak casks. This unique aging process imparts a flavor profile that harks back to vintage bottlings from decades past, offering a truly nostalgic experience for whisky enthusiasts.
Tasting Note by Wilson & Morgan:Nose: Nutty with hints of red sweet desert wine, pears and red apples, with crushed almond giving a sweet marzipan note, sweet spices and hints of candied orange and a touch of dark chocolate, with a soft sherry note running through the aroma. Palate: Very rich and taste forward, lots of smooth and spice notes running side by side to deliver a nice balance to the front of the palate, Spices and roasted chestnuts, some waxiness coating the mid palate, apples skins dates, cinnamon and honey, this is a great tasting dram that is more rich than overly sweet.
A robust cask strength 21 year old matured predominantly in ex-Oloroso Sherry butts before spending a further 21 months finishing in Pedro Ximénez casks. Sherried, honeyed and unpeated, this limited edition release offers rich depth and natural sweetness. Bottled at 53.6% ABV with limited availability.
Tasting Note by Bunnahabhain:Nose: Sweet nose with notes of dried fruit, nutmeg spice, honey, caramelised walnuts and a gentle touch of oak.Palate: Initial spicy notes of cinnamon and clove fade to reveal grape syrup which coats the palate, with raisins, figs, candied cherries and a hint of liquorice.Finish: Lingering spicy finish of toasted coffee and cocoa.
