THE BALVENIE - 25 years - Rare Marriage - Bottled in 2021 - 48% ABV
The Balvenie distillery is located in the prestigious Speyside region, in the heart of Scotland. It is one of the three iconic distilleries situated in Dufftown and owned by the William Grant & Sons group, alongside Glenfiddich and Kininvie. After a career at the Mortlach distillery, William Grant acquired land near Balvenie Castle and drew up plans to create his own distillery. The foundation stone was laid in autumn 1886. In 1892, the conversion work of an 18th-century manor, named Balvenie New House, began. Fifteen months later, on May 1, 1893, distillation officially started, marking the launch of production. Although the three Dufftown distilleries use the same pure water and similar malt, each distinguishes itself by unique production methods, offering three single malt whiskies with very different aromatic profiles. Historically, Balvenie mainly supplied volumes for blends, notably those of William Grant, but today the distillery focuses primarily on its Single Malt, with a smaller portion of production dedicated to the famous Monkey Shoulder blend. Its reputation also rests on a varied range of expressions renowned for their finishing in different types of wood, demonstrating exceptional craftsmanship.
The Malt Master of Balvenie, David C. Stewart MBE, perfectly embodies this pursuit of quality and innovation. Joining Balvenie in 1962 at only 17 years old, he has dedicated over 54 years to the art of Scottish whisky. He is notably recognized for revolutionizing cask finishing techniques, bringing unparalleled complexity and richness to the whiskies. In recognition of his immense contribution, David Stewart was awarded the MBE (Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) in 2016 by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
This exceptional 25-year-old Single Malt is an integral part of the prestigious Balvenie Rare Marriages collection. It is aged exclusively in rigorously selected European and American oak casks, before being carefully married in a large vat (Tun), ensuring a remarkable aromatic balance between woody roundness and complex depth.
Aromatic profile: woody, elegant, and refined
