THE BALVENIE - Curious Cask - 14 years - 47.8%
The Balvenie Curious Cask 14 Year Old, bottled at 47.8%, is a limited edition from the renowned Balvenie distillery, located in Dufftown in the heart of Speyside. Founded in 1892 by William Grant, this family distillery perpetuates a rare craft: it still grows its own barley and malt on site and retains its own coopers and coppersmiths, ensuring total quality control.
This Curious Cask cuvée, selected for its unique profile, is the result of fourteen years of aging in oak casks previously used for wine or aromatic spirits, chosen for their ability to reveal the complexity of the distillate. This marriage of Balvenie's signature malty sweetness and the richness of the cask results in a single malt of exceptional depth.
The nose opens with aromas of acacia honey, candied fruit, and vanilla, enhanced by subtle notes of dried apricot, walnuts, and toasted oak. On the palate, the texture is full and smooth, marked by flavors of toffee, poached pear, and sweet spices. The controlled warmth of the bottling strength reinforces the whisky's precision and energy. The finish, long and refined, stretches with nuances of caramel, dried fruit, and vanilla oak, with a slightly saline touch.
A beautifully balanced Scottish single malt, both indulgent and vibrant, intended for pure, slightly airy tasting to reveal all its complexity.