Cask tales: The Balvenie launches 2 new limited-edition whiskies

Speyside-based distillery The Balvenie ends 2023 with two new whiskies — A Revelation of Cask and Character, and A Rare Discovery from Distant Shores — for their Stories collection, a range of whiskies first introduced in 2019.

As one of the few distilleries in Scotland to have a cooperage on site, The Balvenie has the advantage of experimenting with different casks, not to mention having a long-serving cooper in the form of Ian McDonald on hand to oversee all the detailed woodwork. A Revelation of Cask and Character pays homage to this vital craft of coopering — about 75 per cent of a whisky’s aromas and flavours come from the oak cask.

A Revelation of Cask and Character is a 19-year-old that is aged entirely in European sherry oak. Malt Master Kelsey McKechnie said this new whisky showcases “the journey of our coopers, representing Ian’s work with Spanish bodegas”. The Revelation has a smooth, honeyed profile; a characteristic that fans of The Balvenie would recognise. The sherry oak imparts the whisky with layers of candied fruit, toffee and spices, making this a classic Speyside dram with an exotic touch.

A Rare Discovery from Distant Shores is a 27-year-old whisky: It originally spent 20 years in American oak before it was finished in ex-Caroni rum casks from Trinidad for another seven years. Ageing in rum casks is, of course, nothing new to The Balvenie — they have been using rum casks for about 20 years — but using Caroni rum casks is a first for them. The idea to age in those casks was born from a meeting between former malt master David Stewart and his friend, John Barrett, a rum bottler, in the early 2000s. The latter had introduced some Caroni rum samples to Stewart, who was immediately taken by the cult rum. Even though the Caroni distillery in Trinidad had closed in 2002, there were still remaining stocks, so Stewart and his team managed to get their hands on some Caroni casks.

The Rare Discovery offers a taste of the Caribbean: The whisky’s fruity character is complemented by notes of dark chocolate, coconut, vanilla, and manuka honey.

Charles Metcalfe, The Balvenie’s global brand ambassador, said the two new whiskies are “a tribute to the expertise and skill of the team that develops our whisky, as well as [our] legacy of innovation and craftsmanship”.

“The limited quantity of the two expressions mean they will only be available for two years, making them a great collectible and a story worth capturing,” he said.

Interested buyers can indicate their interest on since1887.sg. A member of The Balvenie team will reach out to them.