First Impressions
This is rare, expensive and entirely worth the fuss. The Single Barrel 25 takes everything Balvenie does well and lets time do its slow, transformative work in a single refill American oak cask.
Distillery & Heritage
Each bottling is drawn from one cask only, hand-selected by Malt Master David Stewart from Balvenie's slowly dwindling stock of mature refill American oak. Refill casks (rather than first-fill) are deliberately used so the wood doesn't dominate after a quarter century.
Tasting Notes in Detail
The nose is a masterclass in mature Speyside — heather honey, candied orange peel, vanilla, old leather and a faint waxy note that recalls the great vintage Balvenies of decades past.
Verdict
A profound and beautifully judged old Balvenie.
