The Balvenie Whisky

What is the story behind The Balvenie Scotch?

The Balvenie distillery was built in 1892 on the slopes of the Convals, just below the Glenfiddich distillery. Originally known as Glen Gordon, it took the name of a nearby castle that had long crumbled into ruins. In 1893, the Balvenie distillery pioneered the Five Rare Crafts technique, creating the fine, uniquely spirited single-malt the brand is famous for.

Who founded Balvenie?

William J. Grant founded the Balvenie brand, as well as the sister distillery Glenfiddich.

What is the meaning of the name Balvenie?

Balvenie means “village of luck.”

What is special about Balvenie?

The Balvenie is famous for using the Five Rare Crafts, creating a truly unique single-malt Scotch:

1. Home-grown barley: The Balvenie is the only Scottish distillery that still grows its barley and malts a significant proportion of this home-grown barley to create the perfect single-malt.
2. Maltings: The Balvenie is one of only a handful of distilleries left in Scotland that still uses traditional working floor maltings. The barley is steeped in spring water sourced from the hills above the distillery, then spread across the malting floor, where dedicated malt men turn it by hand before it is ready for the kiln.
3. Coppersmith: Since the distillery’s opening, Balvenie’s master coppersmiths have continued to forge the same style of still, ensuring that each bottle maintains a consistent quality of flavour and depth. The craftsmanship that went into each still also means that they do not need to be repaired very often.
4. Cooperage: Balvenie knows that the type of cask used affects their Scotch’s taste. Thus, they only entrust the preparation and maintenance of their barrels to an on-site team of coopers working at the distillery’s in-house cooperage. The wood used to make each cask is toasted just enough to release the flavours within, imparting that unique taste to each whisky stored in it.
5. Malt master: A long line of malt masters have been responsible for ensuring that each and every single malt distilled at Balvenie is of the highest quality. Their craft and knowledge are passed down to each generation, preserving the skills needed to create The Balvenie’s consistent flavours.

Is Balvenie a Scotch or whisky?

Balvenie is a Scotch whisky because it is distilled in Scotland.

Is Balvenie Highland or Lowland?

Balvenie is neither; it is a Speyside Scotch as the distillery is located in the Speyside region of Scotland.

Is Balvenie single malt or blended?

The Balvenie is a single-malt whisky produced at a single distillery using 100% malted barley.

Read more on our Guide to Scotch Whisky: What is it?

Balvenie whisky labels

Here are the Balvenie labels available for purchase:

• The Balvenie Doublewood 12-Year-Old: This 12-year-old Scotch gains its distinctive character from being matured in two wood types. It is first aged in a traditional oak whisky cask before being transferred to a first-fill European oak sherry cask.
• The Balvenie Doublewood 17-Year-Old: This older sibling to the Double Wood 12-year-old is aged first in American oak barrels, which impart soft, sweet vanilla notes, before being transferred to European oak sherry casks, which adds rich, spicy flavours and depth and fullness of flavour.
• The Balvenie 14-Year-Old Caribbean Cask: This Scotch was first aged in traditional oak casks before finishing its maturation in casks that previously held Caribbean rum, imparting warm, fruity tones to the whisky.
• The Balvenie Single Barrel 15-Year-Old: This limited edition label is drawn from a single traditional oak whisky cask from a single distillation. No more than 350 hand-numbered bottles are produced, making each one unique and unrepeatable.
• The Balvenie Port Wood 21-Year-Old: This rare Balvenie is transferred into port wine casks, imparting just the right amount of character to the whisky.
• The Balvenie 17-Year-Old Peated Cask: This unique Scotch is made using a heavily peated batch of barley that was then transferred to newly prepared traditional casks for the maturation process.
• The Balvenie 25-Year-Old: An exquisite whisky released as part of the distillery’s ‘Rare Marriages’ series, a collection of three distinct whiskies aged at different years. This smooth Scotch is a testament to Balvenie’s dedication to traditional craftsmanship.
• The Balvenie 30-Year-Old: A rare and especially fine single-malt Scotch released as part of the distillery’s ‘Rare Marriages’ series. This mellow yet complex whisky is bottled at 47.3% abv to capture all the signature characteristics of The Balvenie brand.
• The Balvenie 40-Year-Old: Balvenie’s oldest regularly released bottling, included as part of the ‘Rare Marriages’ series. Each new batch is created as the previous one runs low and is focused around a careful blend of old sherry and bourbon casks.

How long is Balvenie aged?

Each Balvenie label is aged at different times to impart distinctive flavours. The typical maturation time for a cask finish label is 14 years.

Taste profile

The Balvenie Doublewood 12-Year-Old

An aroma of sweet fruit and Oloroso sherry notes layered with honey and vanilla. The palate is smooth and mellow, with a beautiful combination of nutty sweetness, cinnamon spiciness, and a delicately proportioned layer of sherry.

The Balvenie Doublewood 17-Year-Old

It has an elegant and complex aroma with notes of oak, vanilla, honeyed sweetness and a hint of green apple. The palate is sweet with dried fruits, sherbet spice, toasted almonds and cinnamon, layered with a richness of creamy toffee notes and traces of oak and deep vanilla. It finishes with vanilla oak, honey and spicy sweetness.

The Balvenie 14-Year-Old Caribbean Cask

The aroma has rich, sweet and creamy toffee on the nose combined with fresh fruit notes. It opens up into a rounded palate with vanilla and sweet oak notes and a fruity character that develops with time.

The Balvenie Single Barrel 15-Year-Old

The fragrant aroma of vanilla, honeyed sweetness, hints of heather, and dry, oaky notes is followed by a rich and complex flavour of honeyed maltiness, vanilla, oak, and delicate spice notes. The finish is long and complex, with a hint of liquorice.

The Balvenie Port Wood 21-Year-Old

A perfume of fruity and ripe raisin notes, backed by a nutty dryness, it opens up into a refined flavour with remarkable character. It is creamy and silky with fruit, honey, and spice notes. It ends on a long, gentle, and nutty finish.

The Balvenie 17-Year-Old Peated Cask

A gentle floral aroma with hints of violet and lavender. Delicate smoke beautifully balanced with honeyed vanilla and spicy oakiness. The prominent smokiness softens to reveal oaky honey and vanilla. Cinnamon and nutmeg develop with time. It ends on a sweet and spicy finish with hints of smoke.

The Balvenie 25-Year-Old

It has a smooth, honeyed aroma with mellow, oaky tones and hints of candied orange peel. The flavour begins with bold vanilla oak before slowly dissipating to reveal layers of toasted marshmallows, fresh fruit terrine, and cinnamon-infused apple tart.

The Balvenie 30-Year-Old

It begins with the same smooth, honeyed aroma as the 25-year-old. The palate, on the other hand, is much deeper, with rich dark chocolate and hints of plum, marzipan and caramelised pear. It ends on an exceptionally smooth and warming finish with gentle spice and lingering sweetness.

The Balvenie 40-Year-Old

The aroma contains honey and orange marmalade notes that mingle with a creamy fruitiness, opening up into a luscious wave of vanilla and a hint of oak. The flavour of orange blossom, candied ginger, and honeyed sweetness follows, developing into oak, mouth-coating vanilla notes, and a delicate, sherried fruitiness. The finish is warm and elegant, with a honeyed citrus richness.

Is Balvenie Scotch smoky?

Yes, if you’re talking about The Balvenie Peated Cask. The peated barley used in its production imparts the distinctively smoky flavour of peat into every aspect of the whisky.

Food pairings

Here are some foods you should pair up with your bottle of Balvenie:

• Try combining the Balvenie Doublewood with smoked salmon; that hint of sweetness works wonders with the sweet, decadent flesh of the fish.
• The honeyed flavours of the ‘Rare Marriages’ series complement the briny flavour of fresh oysters, creating a sweet/salty combo.
• The Balvenie Caribbean Cask is best enjoyed neat with a rich, flavourful skewer: duck, scallop, asparagus or pumpkin are excellent options.

How do you drink the Balvenie whisky?

Here are the best ways to enjoy your Balvenie:

• Neat: The simplest way to drink Scotch is to pour a dram at room temperature. Took slow, careful sips to savour the flavour fully.
• With a splash of water: Adding a drop of clean, still spring water dilutes some of the Scotch’s sharpness while also revealing the subtler flavours.
• On the rocks: Pouring your Scotch on some ice will make it more refreshing, but too much ice can dilute the flavours. Choose the right size and amount of ice to find the perfect balance for your palate.
• With tea: Pairing Scotch with tea may seem odd, but this combination adds depth to both drinks. Try pairing a Balvenie Doublewood with a jasmine tea; the whisky’s delicate balance of tannins and spice combines with the tea’s floral notes for a pleasing new dimension of flavour.
• In a cocktail: Experiment with different mixers to create a uniquely exotic cocktail beverage with an explosion of flavour. Try making a glass of Highland Dragon, a mixture of Balvenie Doublewood 12-year-old, oolong tea and vermouth with a dash of bitters and topped off with a maraschino cherry.

Celebrate with a bottle of Balvenie

Experience the true taste of Speyside with a bottle of Balvenie whisky. The rich, uniquely spirited flavour of this single-malt Scotch will wow your friends and family and make your party or tasting the talk of the town. You’ll feel like you’re in the Convals with just a single sip of The Balvenie.

Check out our selection for the most affordable Balvenie whisky price in Malaysia.

Now, you can share the taste of Scottish tradition with our special Chinese New Year gift sets! Give your husband, boss or the whisky lover you know a CNY gift pack featuring a bottle of Balvenie Scotch and a commemorative branded whisky glass.

Choose either the Balvenie 14 Years Caribbean Cask or the Balvenie 12 Years Doublewood; both are ideal festive gifts for this prosperous season!