Cover The Balvenie 27 Year Old ‘A Rare Discovery from Distant Shores’ (Photo: The Balvenie)
The Balvenie 27 Year Old ‘A Rare Discovery from Distant Shores’ (Photo: The Balvenie)
1 / 1
Tatler+
The limited edition collection of ‘A Revelation of Cask and Character’ and ‘A Rare Discovery from Distant Shores’ will only be up for grabs for two years
Sought after by collectors around the world, The Balvenie inducts two new releases into its iconic Stories Range: The 19 Year Old ‘A Revelation of Cask and Character’ and the 27 Year Old ‘A Rare Discovery from Distant Shores’. Cut from a different cloth since 1886, The Balvenie is the only distillery that still grows its own barley while also being one of the few Scottish distilleries that operate their own cooperage, manufacturing their own casks on site.
Behind every cask is a skilful cooper that has left an indelible mark on their production process. To honour that, the Stories Range—one that brings to life the stories of the places where the whisky is made and celebrates the creativity, passion and curiosity of its makers—shines a spotlight on the synergistic relationship shared between The Balvenie and their craftsmen.
Don’t miss: One of France’s top champagne merchants on where the world of bubbly is headed next
Above The Balvenie 19 Year Old ‘A Revelation of Cask and Character’
The Balvenie 19 Year Old ‘A Revelation of Cask and Character’
1 / 1
The first whisky The Balvenie 19 Year Old ‘A Revelation of Cask and Character’ had the prints of head cooper Ian Macdonald all over. With over 50 years spent mastering the craft of coopering, Macdonald’s extensive knowledge and curiosity took him around the world. It was at a sherry bodega in Jerez, Spain in 2009 that sparked an idea after a tacit exchange of expertise.
Under the influence of sherry casks, the nose unfurls with intense ripe fruits, warm layers of spice and candied orange peel—revealing the nature of the beautifully toasted oak and milled barley. The rich expression follows with flavours of raisins, cherries and currants that give way to chewy fig as well as a long creamy finish with lingering notes of cacao.
Above The Balvenie 27 Year Old ‘A Rare Discovery from Distant Shores’
The Balvenie 27 Year Old ‘A Rare Discovery from Distant Shores’
1 / 1
The Balvenie 27 Year Old ‘A Rare Discovery from Distant Shores’ on the other hand is inspired by John Barrett, who is a long-time friend and colleague of The Balvenie master blender David C. Stewart MBE. Barett is known for his knack for finding interesting spirits from around the world and one particular sample he brought to Stewart was some very special samples of the rare Caroni Caribbean rum.
With Stewart’s freedom to experiment and some intuitive foresight, he and his team harnessed the Caroni rum casks for its ability to offer more depth to the single malt’s signature honeyed flavour. The gold-hued whisky offers an alluring complexity of manuka honey and dark molasses with occasional hints of green banana and light spice. The attack follows with velvety vanilla sweetness and graduates to treacle toffee, aged leather and deep oaks tannin. The finish is oily and coats the mouth with an everlasting sweetness.
Keeping up with the legacy of other whiskies in The Balvenie’s Stories Range, British artist and printmaker Andy Lovell’s beautifully illustrated packaging features captivating depictions of the distillery’s landscape as well as the craftsman behind the historic single-malts.
“Both releases are a tribute to the expertise and skill of the team that develops our whisky, as well as The Balvenie’s legacy of innovation and craftsmanship,” says Charles Metcalfe, global brand ambassador of The Balvenie. “The limited quantity of the two expressions means they will only be available for two years, making them a great collectable and a story worth capturing.”
NOW READ
Why we’re excited about Cloudy Bay’s two new vintages that are now available in Singapore
The Tatler Dining Champagne Guide returns for 2023 with Sarah Heller MW
Christmas gift guide 2023: What to get for the sophisticated imbiber
Credits
Images: The Balvenie
