Whatever happened to Balvenie Craftsmans Reserve No.2

[Blackadder]

I have been having a bit of a tidy and sorting out my whisky which is stored in cupboards and spare bedrooms in the house and i came across a few bottles which i had forgot i had.

One bottle i came across was the Balvenie Craftsmans Reserve No.1 The Cooper which was exclusive to the Balvenie Warehous 24 members. I was lucky enough to receive a sample of this which was superb so i decided not to open the bottle and try and collect the whole Balvenie Craftsmans Reserve series to drink together at a later date.

It is almost 18 months since the Balvenie Craftsmans Reserve No.1 The Cooper was released and i just had a look at the Balvenie website for any sign of Balvenie Craftsmans Reserve No.2 but there is not even a trace of the first bottle, it is like it never existed. Now i bought into this thinking it was going to be a unique series of the Balvenie but it looks like the Balvenie have changed there mind without telling anyone who bought into it.

Anyone one know what is happening with this?

[Kray]

My guess is the Balvenie have scrapped the series and removed any trace of it from their website. A great way to treat their warehouse 24 members.

[Archer]

I had forgot about this, i would like to know what the story is here if anyone knows.

[Calder]

I have assumed that they have scrapped the series but would love to know what the balvenie have to say on it.

[drPete]

I was at the Balvenie fete lat week in London and asked the B guys exactly this question. It is "on hold" at the moment, too many other releases (tuns, triples, single barrel first fill, doublewood 17) have been happening.
The original plan was 5, finishing with the malt master, and the second release was to be a US W24 only bottle. All of this may change or may not happen, but nothing will happen for a while.
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Talisker 18 - the rest are just details

[Blackadder]

[Mark]

I wouldnt mind hearing what the Balvenies official line is on the Craftsmans, i cant find a trace of it on the Balvenie website

[Crane]

I cant even see the Balvenie Tun 1401 batch 8 mentioned at all on the balvenie website, i only heard of batch 8 being launched as somebody mentioned it on here but no sign of it on the Balvenie site that i can see. I dont know if i have missed the chance to buy a bottle of Tun 1401 batch 8 or not.

William have you heard what the story is with Tun 1401 batch 8 and the Craftsmans Reserve?

[drPete]

Hi Crane
Batch 8 was launched at the Balvenie fete last week, several shops have already sold through, Abbey Whisky are getting some stock later this week (TWE, TWS sold out already).
9 is in the Tun ready for a November release in the US, 10 is planned for next March travel retail.
Regards
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Talisker 18 - the rest are just details

[Crane]

[William]

Crane i usually receive all the info on the Balvenie releases but i did not receive anything about this, not sure if i have dropped of the Balvenie mailing list.
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There's no bad whisky. Just good whisky and better whisky.

[drPete]

[quote="Crane"]

[mike101]

and it is now available, cheap as chips... only GBP 220!!!!

not so sure if that price tag is justified...

cheers
mike

[opelfruit]

£199...

and the shop near me was retailing for £180.

The ones selling at £220 are cashing in on the sellouts. I rang TWE about when they were going live with it and they "had not decided yet". ie they were waiting for everyone else to go live, sell out, and then post it with higher prices.

Basic cashing in, and it's disgusting.


MasterOfMalt were selling Feis Ile whiskies for double the retail price too, Arbog was retailing at £150.

I again picked mine up for £70 locally.

This big players need to get their houses in order, they're part of the problem.


.....even at £200 it's ok though in my view. Given the age of the whiskies in the mix, and the price of previous editions then £200 was the only way it was going. Looking across the market values for high ages whisky it's about right I'd say. Given you're looking at between £180-£300 for most whiskies at 30 yo as a baseline, and tun 1401 has some older stock in (and a little bit of younger).
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"Too much of anything is bad, but too much good whisky is barely enough."

[William]

Some do try to cash in. Balvenies RRP was £200 which is a fair enough price in todays market but i don tlike the shops who try to cash in. Berry Brothers & Rudd are trying to sell batch 8 for £250
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There's no bad whisky. Just good whisky and better whisky.