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The Balvenie
unveil DCS Compendium Chapter Two,
titled "The Influence of Oak".
Here is something very special for the
Balvenie fans amongst you with deep
pockets, following on from the launch of
Chapter One of The Balvenie DCS
Compendium, titled ‘Distillery Style’ this time last year the
Balvenie has unveiled The Balvenie DCS
Compendium Chapter Two, titled "The
Influence of Oak", similar to the first
release, Chapter Two features five
rare single malt whiskies.
The Balvenie DCS Compendium is Malt
Master David Charles Stewart MBE’s handover of
his knowledge in both written and liquid
form that will see 25 rare and vintage
casks released over five years. The
Balvenie DCS Compendium captures the
breadth of David’s achievement and
contributions to the industry and his
craft.
The Balvenie tell me that David's
selection of whiskies for The Balvenie DCS Compendium Chapter Two highlights
the complex manner in which different
oak barrels influence the flavour of the
spirit during the maturation process.
David pioneered double cask maturation,
commonly known as finishing during a 54 year career at
The Balvenie, a legacy most notably
fulfilled in The Balvenie 12 year old
DoubleWood. This chapter is said to showcase his
vast knowledge and unrivalled expertise
in understanding this process, which he
has harnessed to craft whiskies of
exceptional quality.
The whiskies in The Balvenie DCS
Compendium Chapter Two range in age from
15 years to 43 years and were taken from
different cask types, including;
European oak Oloroso sherry butts, first
fill American oak bourbon barrels,
European oak port puncheon and European
oak Pedro Ximénez sherry butt – with
each barrel imparting their own distinct
flavour profile to the final expression.
The Balvenie DCS Compendium Chapter Two
whiskies are:
-
 The Balvenie 1972 43 year old
Cask No. 13134
European oak Oloroso sherry butt,
filled 31st October 1972, 52.4% ABV
RRP £15,000
- The Balvenie 1990 25 year old
Cask No. 2790
European oak Oloroso sherry butt,
filled 3rd October 1990, 59.6% ABV
RRP £1,100
- The Balvenie 1990 26 year old
Cask No. 7359
First fill American oak bourbon
barrel, filled 1st May 1990, 52.9%
ABV
RRP £1,100
- The Balvenie 1997 19 year old
Cask No. 7951
European oak port puncheon, filled
6th August 1997, 61.8% ABV
RRP £800
- The Balvenie 2001 15 year old
Cask No. 9328
European oak Pedro Ximénez sherry
butt, filled 25th April 2001, 62.3%
ABV
RRP £700
Commenting on The Balvenie DCS
Compendium Chapter Two, David Stewart
MBE, says: "As a Malt Master, I’m very
lucky to have been trusted to experiment
with different cask finishes and even
try out my own techniques to see how
they effect the distinctive honeyed
characteristics of The Balvenie.
Understanding how the oak and the
previous spirit, or fortified wine held
by the cask influences the whisky is a
very important part of my job.
"This chapter highlights the complexity
of flavours each expression takes from
wood. I love the results from the older
Oloroso sherry butt, which has produced
a whisky with a fantastic floral and
fruity nose, followed by a wonderful
honeyed sweetness. The whisky taken from
the 2001 Pedro Ximénez sherry butt is
unusual, it shows The Balvenie as a near
liqueur with toffee sweetness and a
touch of spicy ginger."
As you would expect for such a rare set
of whiskies it is presented in a case
befitting its rarity. The presentation
case has a bespoke walnut and brass
frame, crafted by Scottish wood
craftsman Sam Chinnery. The rarity of
each expressions is highlighted by an
individual number engraved on the
presentation case, showing it is one of
just 50 sets available worldwide.
Individual bottles from the set will
also be available in single walnut
presentation frames.
A further three chapters will be
released, one annually until 2019, each
featuring five individual casks that
correspond with a certain theme within
the accompanying book.
The subsequent themes will be as
follows:
- The Balvenie DCS Compendium
Chapter Three: Secrets of the Stock
Model
- The Balvenie DCS Compendium
Chapter Four: Expecting the
Unexpected
- The Balvenie DCS Compendium
Chapter Five: Malt Master’s
indulgence
The Balvenie DCS Compendium Chapter
Two: The Influence of Oak will be
available as a set for a RRP of £20,000 as well as
individually from specialist online whisky
shops such as
Master of Malt
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