Balvenie Whisky - A Single Malt Speyside Whisky
Balvenie offers a very traditional Scottish malt whisky from it’s Dufftown based distillery in the famous Speyside region. Now a firm staple in the Scottish whisky books, Balvenie is famed for winning the largest number of gold medals for any brand in any one year at the International Spirits Challenge in 2006.
Balvenie is now the 9th bestselling single malt Scotch whisky on the market, with its popularity and demand continuing to grow.
Balvenie Distillery
Located just below Glenfiddich, Balvenie takes it water source from the Robbie Dhu springs which it shares with its famous neighbour. Although they share the same distiller, Balvenie is incredibly distinct in its nature. It is one of the very few Scottish distilleries to have its own in-house floor maltings, which also supply neighbouring Glenfiddich.
The History of Balvenie
The Balvenie distillery was founded in 1889 by William Grant after his time working at Mortlach Distillery as a young bookkeeper. However, after almost 20 years learning the art of distilling William Grant resigned from Mortlach and went on to build what is now known as the Balvenie Distillery.
Built in the shadows of the Balvenie Castle; Balvenie Distillery was housed in the abandoned Balvenie New House in 1886. However, whisky production didn’t start on sight until many years later in 1893.
In 1923 the founder William Grant passes leaving his son, John, to continue the family business. After taking over John begins the first expansion of the distillery.
In 1962, David C. Stewart MBE begins working for Williams Grant & Sons at the age of 17 and in 1974 becomes the Malt Master of the Balvenie Distillery; only the fourth in the distillery’s history. David first experiments with maturing The Balvenie in 2 different wood type casks in successions, with this process then going on to be known as ‘finishing’. In 2004 David celebrates 30 years as Balvenie’s Malt Master and the brand release The Balvenie 30 Year Old Whisky is celebration of his anniversary.
Since being founded in 1889, Balvenie has continued to be managed under the original ownership of William Grant & Sons; also owners of the two neighbouring Speyside distilleries: Glenfiddich and Kininvie.
To this day the distillery still follows traditional whisky making processes, passed down through the centuries and is the only distillery in Scotland that still grows its own barley, uses traditional floor maltings and keeps both a coppersmith and a team of coopers on site.
Notable Whisky’s from Balvenie
Balvenie 12 Year Old Doublewood Whisky
The Balvenie 12 Year Old Doublewood Whisky marries together two different types of casks providing the perfect balance of two influences. The whisky starts in ex-bourbon cases before being transferred to first-fill sherry casks, allowing for a deeper flavour to build.
One of the classic after-dinner malts, the Balvenie Doublewood is a popular expression from the Balvenie range and is sure to be enjoyed by any whisky enthusiast due to its rich and complex structure.
Balvenie 12 Year Old ‘Toast of American Oak’ Whisky
The first in the Balvenie Stories collection, the Balvenie 12 Year Old ‘Toast of American Oak’ Whisky offers a creamy and sweet single malt Scotch whisky. Finished in heavily-toasted virgin American oak casks provides the whisky with an even fruitier than normal taste and notes of candied fruit, coconut and delicate vanilla.
Balvenie 14 Year Old Caribbean Cask Whisky
The Balvenie 14 Year Old Caribbean Cask Whisky is a limited edition offering that uses the double cask aging process perfected by Malt Master, David Stewart MBE. First aged in traditional oak casks and then transferred to American oak casks previously filled with Caribbean rum.
The double ageing process allows the traditional casks to impart the classic Balvenie flavours which are then complemented by the flavours of the rum. The result, a brilliant Speyside whisky with distinct notes of fruit and vanilla – the perfect dram for traditional and unique tastes.
Balvenie 21 Year Old Portwood Whisky
The Balvenie 21 Year Old Portwood Whisky is a marriage of rare Balvenie matured in port casks used to hold fine port wine. This provides the Balvenie Portwood with an extra level of depth and concentration of flavour, adding fruit and smoke notes to the silky smooth full bodied palate. Considered by many to be Malt Master, David’s, finest creation and has gone on to win an array of highly coveted industry awards since its 1996 release.
Balvenie 15 Year Old Single Barrell Whisky
The Balvenie 15 Year Old Single Barrell Whisky has been matured exclusively in a single European Oak sherry butt for at least 15 years. The term ‘single barrell’ conveys the unique nature of the single malt Scotch whisky, which has been drawn from a single cask. Because no two casks will produce an identical malt, each bottling of the Balvenie 15 Year Old Single Barrell Whisky forms a unique limited edition.
Balvenie 26 Year Old ‘A Day of Dark Barley’ Whisky
The 3rd release from the Balvenie Storeies range, the Balvenie 26 Year Old ‘A Day of Dark Barley’ Whisky is a particularly rich and exciting expression. This whisky tells the story of a day back in 1922 when Balvenie mashman, Brian Webster, and maltman, Robbie Gormley, took in delivery of dark barley, beginning a long experiment. Dark barley is a rare sight in the whisky world as it’s often used in beer brewing.
Balvenie 26 Year Old ‘A Day of Dark Barley’ Whisky provides a deep, oaky whisky, matured for over a quarter of a century in a first-fill bourbon cask offering malty aromas of soft brown sugar, vanilla, honey and oak spice.
Balvenie 19 Year Old Burnhead Whisky
The fourth release in the Balvenie’s Stories range, the Balvenie 19 Year Old Bernhead Whisky is made entirely of ingredients grown on the Balvenie estate in Dufftown, including barley, water from the Robbie Dhu spring and fresh heather from the eponymous Burnhead Wood. The heather has been dried and then dampened before being added to the kiln during the malting process. The result is a fascinating single malt whisky crammed with notes of honey, dried blossoms and fragrant oaks.
Buy Balvenie Whisky Online
Here at The Spirits Embassy, we stock a range of Balvenie whisky. If you’re looking to buy Balvenie whisky online, browse our range below where you will find everything from old and rare to more popular offerings from the Balvenie distillery.
Additionally, if you require any assistance with your purchase or would like more information, please feel free to get in touch with the knowledgeable and friendly team at The Spirits Embassy.
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