{"product_id":"balvenie-11-year-old-curious-casks-hungarian-oak-2024-70cl","title":"Balvenie 11 Year Old Curious Casks Hungarian Oak Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (2024) 70cl","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 28px;\"\u003eBalvenie 11 Year Old Curious Casks Hungarian Oak (2024) 70cl\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis \u003cem\u003eexceptional \u003c\/em\u003ewhisky embodies the spirit of discovery that lies at the heart of The Balvenie. Aged entirely in rare \u003cem\u003eHungarian Oak casks\u003c\/em\u003e, it presents a unique exploration of our house \u003cem\u003eflavor profile\u003c\/em\u003e. The Hungarian wood imparts a \u003cem\u003evibrant character\u003c\/em\u003e, with notes of spice and \u003cem\u003enatural sweetness\u003c\/em\u003e dancing alongside the classic Balvenie \u003cem\u003ehoneyed notes\u003c\/em\u003e. This unexpected influence creates a whisky unlike any other, a testament to our \u003cem\u003ededication \u003c\/em\u003eto pushing boundaries and \u003cem\u003ecrafting exceptional single malts\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInitial flavours of \u003cem\u003eearthy\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eoaky \u003c\/em\u003etannins reveal subtle \u003cem\u003esweetness \u003c\/em\u003eand a vibrant \u003cem\u003ecitrus \u003c\/em\u003eedge\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan class=\"Text_container__6X4oj\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe story of......\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cspan class=\"RichText_container__9OFb4 Title_document__uUCTj\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"Title_line__qfXfI\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"m\"\u003eA \u003cspan class=\"m\"\u003eCollection \u003cspan class=\"m\"\u003eof \u003cspan class=\"m\"\u003eCurious \u003cspan class=\"m\"\u003eCasks\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBehind the weighty warehouse door lies a vast space filled with the heady aroma of wood and whisky. As your eyes slowly adjust to the darkness, thousands of casks are revealed. Shafts of light from the small warehouse windows illuminate the meticulously stacked library of liquid treasures.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere are the classics, and amongst them, rare and striking Single Casks, yet to be discovered. Amidst this scene, one man waits, dressed in a simple black t-shirt, despite Speyside's frosty temperatures. A second figure approaches, heralded by the sound of light footsteps which echo around the lofty warehouse.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs usual, their conversation is punctuated by peals of laughter. After delivering her Sample requests, Our Malt Master Kelsey McKechnie makes her way to the Tasting Room, leaving George Paterson alone in his natural habitat. He doesn’t linger long; he has a job to do.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout Balvenie \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"banner wrapper\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"banner-container\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"banner-content\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"banner-content-inner\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"introduction\"\u003eBalvenie distillery shares the same (massive) site with Glenfiddich and Kininvie but makes its whisky in a very different manner to its two sisters.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"pagenav js-fixed\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIts floor maltings have been retained and although this only makes up a small percentage (up to 15%) of the total mash, it is believed that it helps contribute character to the new make – the small amount of peat which is burned might help. Given that Balvenie has only opened to visitors in recent times, it certainly wasn’t kept for cosmetic or touristic reasons.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt’s a large distillery with nine, fat, short-necked stills producing a new make character which is notably sweet and honeyed – completely different to both Glenfiddich and Kininvie. Interestingly, when William Grant built its Ailsa Bay malt distillery in Girvan, the still shape replicated that of Balvenie, but the new make is different again.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis was one of the first distilleries to introduce a ‘finished’ single malt with the launch in 1993 of Double Wood, which was first aged in ex-Bourbon casks before being given a short period of secondary maturation (aka finishing) in ex-Sherry. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis utilisation of different wood types runs through the Balvenie range with a new 17-year-old Double Wood recently joining Caribbean Cask (ex-rum) 14 year old, and the 21-year-old Port Wood as part of the core range. As well as single barrel releases and older age variants up to 50 years in the range, a cult small batch, Tun 1401, has also recently appeared, followed by Tun 1509.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBalvenie was built on a 12 acre site adjacent to Glenfiddich in 1892\/3. Originally known as Glen Gordon it took the name of the huge (ruined) castle which was located next door. The ‘new’ castle, already derelict in 1893, was turned into maltings.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe distillery provided fillings, primarily for the Grant’s Standfast blend, until 1973 when the first official bottling was made. Its continued requirements as a contributor to blends initially restricted its growth as a stand-alone brand (although increasing its cult status). This was eased slightly with the opening of Kininvie in 1990, but it was only with the building of Ailsa Bay that greater stocks were finally made available. It is now one of the fastest-growing single malt brands in the world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e47.4% ABV\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e70cl\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Balvenie","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54686700929349,"sku":"5010327526249","price":129.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0941\/9495\/8661\/files\/4492389485.jpg?v=1746545841","url":"https:\/\/b1yyjg-bk.myshopify.com\/products\/balvenie-11-year-old-curious-casks-hungarian-oak-2024-70cl","provider":"Whisky Situation Old","version":"1.0","type":"link"}