Balvenie 12 year old Double Wood - Limited Design Edition Victo Ngai

Profile: The Balvenie 12 year old Double Wood - Limited Design Edition Victo Ngai at a glance

• Limited Edition: Artful packaging by Victo Ngai - perfect as a gift
• Gold Medal Winner at the International Spirits Challenge 2023 & 2024
• Double Gold Winner at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2021 & 2022
• Gold Outstanding (96 points) at the International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) 2021
• Master (Best in Category) at The Scotch Whisky Masters 2020
• Best Speyside Single Malt 12 year old and Under at the World Whiskies Awards 2019
• Mature in ex-bourbon and sherry casks
• The Balvenie Double Wood is one of the most popular single malts for good reason

Portrait: What makes the Balvenie 12 year old Double Wood - Limited Design Edition Victo Ngai special

The Balvenie 12 year old Wood - Limited Design Edition Victo Ngai isn't just a whisky – it's a miniature gallery in a glass, packaged in an elegant gift box that looks like Picasso and a Highlander shared a coffee filter and decided, "Yes, this is how we'll present whisky." Behind this limited edition is award-winning illustrator Victo Ngai, whose imaginative and intricate works have been featured on Forbes 30 Under 30 and now adorn the packaging. A gift for connoisseurs, art lovers, or anyone who simply wants to stand out from the whisky shelf in style – perfect for Easter, Mother's Day, or Father's Day.

But before delving into the art, let's take a look at the star inside. The Balvenie 12 year old ​​​​​​ Double Wood spends its youth first in cozy former bourbon barrels, where it learns for 11.5 years to practice patience and develop character - practically the Highlander among students. After that, it spends eight to nine months in first-fill Oloroso sherry casks, as if it were a Scottish student on a semester abroad in Spain: a bit of sun, a bit of adventure, and suddenly depth is added to its character. The result? A single malt that proves double oak doesn't mean double the work, but double the pleasure. This little masterpiece is produced at the Balvenie Distillery in Dufftown, a place that seems to have more distilleries than pubs. Since 1892, everything here has been lovingly made by hand – from the malt to the cask, old-school, but with style. Balvenie is one of the last distilleries in Scotland to produce its own malted barley. One could say: Tradition is taken seriously here, but with a wink.

It's hard to believe that this whisky is only 12 years old - it seems more like a Scottish gentleman in a tweed suit who, after a walk in the Highlands, writes a poem about sherry. Add to that a shelf full of awards, from gold medals at the International Spirits Challenge 2023 & 2024 to double gold in San Francisco.

In short: The Balvenie 12 year old Double Wood is like a good joke with style – profound, charming, and memorable. Once you've experienced it, you won't soon forget it. Slàinte!

Tasting Notes: This is how the Balvenie 12 year old Double Wood - Limited Design Edition Victo Ngai tastes like

• Nose: Malty aromas of milled barley define the first impression. These are followed by subtle nutty aromas, complemented by a fruity component. Grapefruit brings a light citrus freshness, while cherries add darker notes.
• Palate: The taste is overall sweet and well-rounded, with clear fruitiness. Oranges and red berries are prominent. Light spice notes and vanilla are also present. A subtle hint of peat is perceptible in the background, but very discreet.
• Finish: The finish is dry and spicy, with a pleasant, warming note that lingers for a medium length of time.