Balvenie 12 year old - A Collection of Curious Casks

Profile: The Balvenie 12 year old - A Collection of Curious Casks at a glance

• Balvenie 12 year old Montilla Cask - Curiosity has never smelled so good
• A Collection of Curious Casks: Exclusive single cask bottling
• Matured in European Oak Casks, previously filled with Montilla wine
• Matured for 12 years: Hand-picked by Malt Master Kelsey McKechnie
• Origin: Dufftown, Speyside - from the traditional Balvenie distillery
• Bottled without colorings & without chill filtration

Portrait: What makes the Balvenie 12 year old - A Collection of Curious Casks special

What happens when you put a Scottish malt master, a sample coordinator, and some rather curious oak casks together in a warehouse? That's right: You get a whisky that even old Highland cows would nod their approval at.

The Balvenie 12 year old Montilla Cask is part of the "Curious Cask Collection" - a series for all those who find "ordinary" simply too boring. Here, Malt Master Kelsey McKechnie, together with Samples Coordinator George Paterson, didn't just choose any barrel, but a particularly curious one: European oak that had previously housed a sweet, rich wine from Montilla, Spain. "Olé," says the Scotsman - and lets the whisky mature in it for a full 12 years.

The Balvenie distillery, located in tranquil Dufftown in Speyside, Scotland, is one of the last of its kind: with its own malthouse, in-house coopers, and people who can not only roll barrels, but also read them. In short: Here, the work is still done with heart, craftsmanship, and humor.

The Montilla Cask is not a whisky for a quick sip - rather, it's a dram for those who ask themselves while drinking: What happens when you lock Spanish temperament and Scottish patience in a cask? Answer: This.

Distilled: 2012
Cask No.: #1892

Tasting Notes: This is how the Balvenie 12 year old - A Collection of Curious Casks tastes like

• Nose: Delicate and fresh with a lively note of barley sugar that gradually develops into liquid honey. This is accompanied by a balanced toasted oak aroma that adds additional depth and warmth.
• Palate: The entry is characterized by a candied sweetness that unfolds into expressive vanilla and oak notes. This is accompanied by warm spice notes and a hint of dried apricot, providing a fruity complexity.
• Finish: The finish is refreshingly sweet, with a light, clean presence that pleasantly rounds off the whisky's character.