What is the best Balvenie whisky to start with?
If you're new to Balvenie, the DoubleWood 12 Year Old is a fantastic introduction. It’s smooth and approachable, with layers of sweet honey, vanilla, and a gentle spice from sherry cask ageing.
What does Balvenie whisky taste like?
Balvenie whiskies are known for their rich, honeyed profiles, balanced oak influence, and soft spice. Expect flavours like vanilla, dried fruit, cinnamon, and toffee - with some expressions offering tropical fruit or smoky notes.
What’s the difference between Balvenie DoubleWood and Caribbean Cask?
- DoubleWood 12 Year Old is aged in ex-bourbon casks and finished in sherry casks, giving it sweet fruit, spice, and oak.
- Caribbean Cask 14 Year Old is finished in rum casks, which adds tropical notes like banana, toffee, and brown sugar.
Is Balvenie whisky peated?
Most Balvenie expressions are not peated and focus on sweet, smooth, and fruity flavours. However, The Week of Peat is a limited edition that features gentle, aromatic peat smoke.
How is Balvenie whisky made?
Balvenie is one of the few distilleries to maintain traditional practices:
- They grow their own barley
- Use floor maltings
- Employ in-house coopers and coppersmiths
- Oversee all maturation under Malt Master David C. Stewart MBE
Where can I buy Balvenie whisky in the UK?
You can shop the full Balvenie whisky collection at the Secret Bottle Shop, with fast and secure UK delivery. You can also visit our Hereford store to explore the range in person and get expert advice.