Balvenie
(bal-VENN-ee)
Balvenie distillery was founded in 1892 by William Grant, who had already built the Glenfiddich distillery next door. It is named after Balvenie Castle which is nearby, but was originally known as Glen Gordon.
Balvenie is also one of the few distilleries which has kept its traditional floor maltings, although only around 15% of the malt used by the distillery is processed by hand on site. As a distillery to visit, it is absolutely top class, with a chance to see every part of the distilling process, including the cooperage within the distillery buildings.
Balvenie was first bottled as a single in 1973, but supply was limited due to the demand for the spirit in blends. This was eased in 1990 with the opening of the adjacent Kininvie distillery and the massive Ailsa Bay distillery at Girvan.
Even though Balvenie and Glenfiddic
How to drink Balvenie 14?
Balvenie 14 is a unique single malt whisky that combines the spice and anise character of a Balvenie Caribbean cask with the sweet and fruity flavours of Balvenie whisky. From the handpicked casks used for its smooth, rewarding taste, every part of this bottling demonstrates their artistry and expertise. Both Balvenie 12 and Balvenie 14 are available here at Hard to Find Whisky, including the connoisseur's choice Balvenie Doublewood.
What Kind of Whisky is Balvenie?
The Balvenie still house is home to a dedicated team of craftsmen who embrace the traditional skills that have been handed down through generations. Since 1863, these craftsmen have not only preserved the original production methods of this unique distillery, but they continue to develop new techniques, innovations and refinements to ensure they are passed down for future generations. The Balvenie Distillery is also world-renowned for its flawless restoration and preservation of traditional methods and techniques used throughout the whisky making process giving it the reputation as one of the finest distilleries in Scotland.
Is Balvenie 12 Smokey?
From the first delicate sip to the lingering aftertaste, Balvenie 12 Year Old is a complete and complex experience. This exceptional whisky has classic notes of honey, toasted oak and fresh pear, and is held in American Oak casks for nine months before a finish in European Oloroso Sherry Butts for an additional three months. Balvenie 12 Year Old is a rich and complex whisky you'll return to time and time again for that rich, smokey taste.
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Balvenie - Founders Reserve (Cognac Bottle) (Unboxed) Whisky
75cl | 40%
A lovely old style Balvenie Founders Reserve in a cognac style bottle. This is the earlier non-aged statement version. Click for more info£399.95Distillery Balvenie Age Description Founders Reserve (Cognac Bottle) (Unboxed) Vintage Cask Wood Oak Year Bottled 1980's Packaging Unboxed Cask Strength No Bottler Distillery HTFW Cat. No. LP20090 -
Balvenie - Tasting Glass & DoubleWood Single Malt 12 year old Whisky
70cl | 40%
The Balvenie DoubleWood gains its distinctive character from being matured in two different wood types. Each stage lends different qualities to the resulting Whisky. The traditional casks soften and add delicate character, the sherry wood brings dept... Click for more info£57.95Distillery Balvenie Age 12 year old Description Tasting Glass & DoubleWood Single Malt Vintage Cask Wood Bourbon & Oloroso Year Bottled Packaging Cardboard Tube Cask Strength No Bottler Distillery HTFW Cat. No. LP19656 -
Balvenie - Stories - The Week Of Peat 17 year old Whisky
70cl | 49.4%
Eager to experiment with The Balvenie profile using what he had learnt from a recent trip to Islay, distillery manager Ian Millar ordered a batch of Speyside peat for the kiln. For a week a year, The Balvenie distills a batch of peated malt, resultin... Click for more info£120.95Distillery Balvenie Age 17 year old Description Stories - The Week Of Peat Vintage Cask Wood American Oak Year Bottled Packaging Cardboard Tube Cask Strength Yes Bottler Distillery HTFW Cat. No. LP18978 -
Balvenie - Stories #9 - A Revelation Of Cask And Character 19 year old Whisky
70cl | 47.5%
This is a story of expertise, intuition, and the craft of Coopering whisky itself. The particular Sherry Oak maturation is the result of years of curiosity and learning, but the story begins with an unexpected discovery. At Balvenie Distillery they ... Click for more info£308.95Distillery Balvenie Age 19 year old Description Stories #9 - A Revelation Of Cask And Character Vintage Cask Wood Oloroso Sherry Year Bottled 2023 Packaging Cardboard Tube Cask Strength Yes Bottler Distillery HTFW Cat. No. LP18530 -
Balvenie - DoubleWood Single Malt 12 year old Whisky
70cl | 40%
The Balvenie DoubleWood gains its distinctive character from being matured in two different wood types. Each stage lends different qualities to the resulting Whisky. The traditional casks soften and add delicate character, the sherry wood brings dept... Click for more info£52.95Distillery Balvenie Age 12 year old Description DoubleWood Single Malt Vintage Cask Wood Bourbon & Oloroso Year Bottled Packaging Cardboard Tube Cask Strength No Bottler Distillery HTFW Cat. No. LP5333 -
Balvenie - Pedro Ximenez 18 year old Whisky
70cl | 48.7%
£399.95Distillery Balvenie Age 18 year old Description Pedro Ximenez Vintage Cask Wood Pedro Ximenez Year Bottled Packaging Cardboard Tube Cask Strength Yes Bottler Distillery HTFW Cat. No. LP17499 -
Balvenie - Stories #5 - The Second Red Rose - Batch #2 21 year old Whisky
70cl | 48.1%
This is the story of a rare red rose that would go on to inspire not one, but two iconic Balvenie whiskies. The first Balvenie Rose was a liquid of such intriguing colour and taste that it would become the talk of Dufftown for many years to come. ... Click for more info£499.95Distillery Balvenie Age 21 year old Description Stories #5 - The Second Red Rose - Batch #2 Vintage Cask Wood Wine Year Bottled 2021 Packaging Cardboard Tube Cask Strength Yes Bottler Distillery HTFW Cat. No. LP16435 -
Balvenie - Stories #6 - A Rare Discovery From Distant Shores 27 year old Whisky
70cl | 48%
This is a story of a rare Caribbean rum that would be a pivotal influence on this stunning 27 year old Single Malt from Balvenie. Unlike any other, this Whisky has been aged in Caroni rum casks (a now long closed rum distillery), resulting in a truly... Click for more info£1,499.95Distillery Balvenie Age 27 year old Description Stories #6 - A Rare Discovery From Distant Shores Vintage Cask Wood Rum Year Bottled Packaging Wooden Box Cask Strength Yes Bottler Distillery HTFW Cat. No. LP16376 -
Balvenie - Rare Marriages - Speyside Single Malt 40 year old Whisky
70cl | 46%
Using some of the rarest casks in The Balvenie warehouses, Malt Master David C. Stewart MBE has created a bold marriage of extraordinary character. Carefully matured in Traditional American and European Oak for an incredible 40 years, before being b... Click for more info£6,998.95Distillery Balvenie Age 40 year old Description Rare Marriages - Speyside Single Malt Vintage Cask Wood American Oak & European Oak Year Bottled Packaging Wooden Box Cask Strength Yes Bottler Distillery HTFW Cat. No. LP5332 -
Balvenie - French Oak - Pineau Cask 16 year old Whisky
70cl | 47.6%
The Balvenie French Oak is a vibrant Single Malt finished in casks previously held wine from the French Charentes vineyards. Pineau des Charentes It is a fortified wine, made from unfermented grape juice, to which a Cognac eau-de-vie is added and the... Click for more info£127.95Distillery Balvenie Age 16 year old Description French Oak - Pineau Cask Vintage Cask Wood Pineau Des Charentes Year Bottled 2022 Packaging Cardboard Tube Cask Strength Yes Bottler Distillery HTFW Cat. No. LP15636 -
Balvenie - Rare Marriages Single Malt Scotch 30 year old Whisky
70cl | 44.2%
The Balvenie Thirty (44.2% ABV) is the sweetest and most honeyed expression within the prestigious Rare Marriages Range. Designed by Malt Master David C. Stewart MBE, The Balvenie Rare Marriages Range is a collection of distinct whiskies that showcas... Click for more info£3,499.95Distillery Balvenie Age 30 year old Description Rare Marriages Single Malt Scotch Vintage Cask Wood Bourbon & Sherry Oak Year Bottled Packaging Original Box Cask Strength No Bottler Distillery HTFW Cat. No. LP15103 -
Balvenie - Tun 1509 Batch 8 Whisky
70cl | 52.2%
Batch 8 will be the final bottling in the distinguished and much-revered Tun 1509 series To create Batch No. 8 David C. Stewart MBE carefully hand-selected eighteen of the finest casks - four ex-Bourbon barrels, six second fill Sherry butts, five re... Click for more info£499.95Distillery Balvenie Age Description Tun 1509 Batch 8 Vintage Cask Wood Oak Year Bottled 2021 Packaging Cardboard Tube Cask Strength Yes Bottler Distillery HTFW Cat. No. LP14667 -
Balvenie - Rare Marriages Single Malt 25 year old Whisky
70cl | 48%
In a flawless Whisky marriage, Malt Master David C. Stewart MBE brings together individual casks that have matured in Traditional American and European Oak to craft an incredibly intricate and balanced expression; exemplifying the art and skill of Si... Click for more info£599.85Distillery Balvenie Age 25 year old Description Rare Marriages Single Malt Vintage Cask Wood American Oak & European Oak Year Bottled Packaging Original Box Cask Strength No Bottler Distillery HTFW Cat. No. LP14121 -
Balvenie - Tun 1509 Batch 7 Whisky
70cl | 52.4%
Tun 1509 Batch 7 is a marriage of 21 casks, comprised of refill Bourbon barrels, refill Sherry butts and refill Sherry hogsheads. With the average age of these whiskies said to exceed 20 years, this wonderful assemblage of some of the The Balvenie's ... Click for more info£399.95Distillery Balvenie Age Description Tun 1509 Batch 7 Vintage Cask Wood American Oak & European Oak Year Bottled 2020 Packaging Cardboard Tube Cask Strength Yes Bottler Distillery HTFW Cat. No. LP12557 -
Balvenie - Stories #2 - The Week Of Peat 14 year old Whisky
70cl | 48.3%
The second bottling in The Balvenie Stories collection, and a welcome return to a slightly peated Balvenie. For a week a year, The Balvenie distills a batch of peated Speyside malt, resulting in a whisky rich in honey, vanilla and citrus notes with a... Click for more info£79.95Distillery Balvenie Age 14 year old Description Stories #2 - The Week Of Peat Vintage Cask Wood American Oak Year Bottled Packaging Cardboard Tube Cask Strength No Bottler Distillery HTFW Cat. No. LP12107 -
Balvenie - Stories #1 - The Sweet Toast of American Oak 12 year old Whisky
70cl | 43%
Inspired to produce an even fruitier, sweeter Balvenie, Apprentice Malt Master Kelsey McKechnie had the bright idea to import Virgin Oak barrels from Kentucky. After deep toasting them at The Balvenie Cooperage they were filled with Balvenie aged in ... Click for more info£53.95Distillery Balvenie Age 12 year old Description Stories #1 - The Sweet Toast of American Oak Vintage Cask Wood Bourbon & Virgin Oak Year Bottled Packaging Cardboard Tube Cask Strength No Bottler Distillery HTFW Cat. No. LP12106 -
Balvenie - Vintage Cask #1236 1951 45 year old Whisky
70cl | 51.9%
A rare treat this, a stunning Single Cask Balvenie! This execptionally Rare Vintage Whisky was specially selected by The Balvenie Malt Master, David Stewart, from a limited stock of Ancient Reserve Whiskies. Distilled on the 14th June 1951, this 45 ... Click for more info£33,000.00Distillery Balvenie Age 45 year old Description Vintage Cask #1236 Vintage 1951 Cask Wood Sherry Year Bottled 1996 Packaging Cardboard Tube Cask Strength Yes Bottler Distillery HTFW Cat. No. LP11738 -
Balvenie - Port Wood Finish - Single Malt 21 year old Whisky
70cl | 40%
An elegant Port wood finished Malt from Balvenie, patiently matured for twenty one long years in Ex-American oak before spending approximately four months in Ex-Tawny Port casks. Aromas of red berries, strawberry shortbread, cranberries with icing s... Click for more info£213.95Distillery Balvenie Age 21 year old Description Port Wood Finish - Single Malt Vintage Cask Wood Port Year Bottled Packaging Original Box Cask Strength No Bottler Distillery HTFW Cat. No. LP5334 -
Balvenie - Single Barrel Sherry Cask #15651 15 year old Whisky
70cl | 47.8%
£249.95Distillery Balvenie Age 15 year old Description Single Barrel Sherry Cask #15651 Vintage Cask Wood Sherry Year Bottled 2020 Packaging Cardboard Tube Cask Strength Yes Bottler Distillery HTFW Cat. No. LP5328 -
Balvenie - Single Barrel #22166 12 year old Whisky
70cl | 47.8%
The Balvenie Single Barrel twelve year old Single Malt is aged in a first fill ex-Bourbon cask. A series of “limited editions” – Each bottle is one of no more than 300 drawn from a single cask and carries the number of the cask in which it mat... Click for more info£179.95Distillery Balvenie Age 12 year old Description Single Barrel #22166 Vintage Cask Wood Bourbon Year Bottled 2010's Packaging Cardboard Tube Cask Strength Yes Bottler Distillery HTFW Cat. No. LP5327