The Balvenie – A Collection of Curious Casks – Aged 14 Years – American Bourbon Barrel

The Balvenie Stories series continues with the Collection of Curious Casks. This latest collection explores the collaborative efforts of Malt Master, Kelsey Mckechnie, and Samples Coordinator, George Paterson, demonstrating their skill in identifying casks that exhibit extraordinary merits in the vast warehouses of Balvenie. This entry in the series highlights a parcel of casks that were originally destined to be in the Single Barrel 12 Year Old. However, upon tasting, a distinct peaty profile to the whisky was detected, despite the malt used not being peated at all. It was found that residues in the distilling equipment after a peated run had imparted a subtle smoky profile to the spirit! Resulting in this wholly unique “collection of curious casks”. The whisky was aged further and bottled after a minimum of 14 years of maturation, giving bright and crisp citrus and toffee, with soft notes of smouldering wood and earth.

Stories whiskies
The embodiment of the stories behind The BalvenieThe Balvenie – tales of character written in whisky.

Each of The Balvenie StoriesThe Balvenie Stories is accompanied by an audiobook, which brings to life the story through a series of interviews with our craftspeople and finishes with a guided tasting hosted by our Global Ambassador and our Malt Master.

A Collection of Curious Casks
Malt Master Kelsey McKechnie and Warehouse Co-Ordinator George Paterson, united by a keen eye for exceptional casks, have collaborated to create this remarkable collection. Years of friendship and George’s unparalleled knowledge of our warehouses guide their selection, bringing forth whiskies brimming with rare potential.

The Balvenie: American Bourbon Barrel
Tales of character written in whiskey
750ml
Aged 14 years
47.8% ABV

Candied orange peel is grounded in woody, earthy flavors from beautifully roasted malt and deep vanilla oakiness.

A Symphony of Flavors
Destined for Single Barrel 12 glory, this whisky took an intriguing turn. Distilled just after peat week, a whisper of smokiness infused the spirit, a surprising note that complements the rich character imparted by our finest Bourbon casks during its 14-year slumber. This unexpected encounter has yielded a whisky unlike any other, a testament to the subtle influences that shape a Balvenie.

The story of
A Collection of Curious Casks
A Collection of Curious Casks
Behind 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.

There 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.

As 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.

They have worked in this easy way as long as George has been Warehouse and Samples Coordinator. Kelsey provides the guiding vision and know-how, and in her words, George, is “the dedicated man on the ground”, with a keen mental map of the Warehouses that guide his daily rounds. Always quick with a smile, and sometimes a well-meaning prank, genuine joy for his role radiates from him”. The two make a perfect alliance. These all-important rendezvous are also an opportunity for George to flag anything he finds interesting. One notable cask kept being picked for a 40-year-old marriage and George recalls saying to Kelsey “please no, it’s just too good to be blended away”. After replying that “he would have to let it go one of these days”, it was eventually tipped whilst he was on holiday, but not into the marriage it was originally fated for. This memorable single cask went on to become The Tale of the Dog, a proof point of the pair’s sharp instincts and intuition.

George has been watching over our precious casks and shepherding them to distinction for over a decade. A lot can happen in the span of ten years. Daily routines are fossilized into ritual, and unexpected discoveries can become legends. It’s these weird and wonderful outlier whiskies, born of interesting experiments, unique woods, and curious whims, that George takes a shine to.

His desire to share these rare treats makes him the perfect host for Warehouse Tastings, which he runs with Global Ambassador Charlie Metcalfe.

Quite the showman, he’ll draw samples with proud ceremony, using a custom valinch hand made by coppersmith Dennis McBain. This valinch is always polished to perfection, playfully winking in the light”, almost as if it’s alive with the same joyous mischief as the man himself.

These tastings typically feature “unique and unexpected character, unusual casks that no one else has seen before – anything with a jaw-drop factor”, elaborates George. And thus, the whiskies released under this Story are inspired by just that, with Kelsey selecting an exquisite range of curious single casks that embody some of our finest hidden gems.

It’s true that much of the making of great whisky happens within the privacy of the casks. Flavour blooms, richness rises and layers settle in for the long haul; an alchemy encased in well-chosen wood. However, there’s a little something extra that makes our whiskies so special, and that takes place outside these precious vessels. The spark of brilliant ideas born from a simple conversation between friends amongst the casks.