Balvenie Expands Upon Stories Range With Launch of Three New Expressions in the U.S.
The Balvenie has expanded upon its Stories range with the launch of three new expressions in the U.S.: The Second Red Rose, A Rare Discovery from Distant Shores, and The Tale of the Dog. Each expression in the Stories range “brings to life a distinct narrative of the human touch, skill, and emotion behind every liquid produced by The Balvenie.”
The Balvenie Stories: The Second Red Rose
The Second Red Rose is a 21 year old single malt Scotch whisky finished in Australian Shiraz casks. It tells the story of Balvenie Castle and the red rose, and is inspired by The Balvenie Rose, a distillery exclusive 16 year old whisky finished in port pipes that was first released in 2008.
The original legendary tale, centered around a rare red rose, began centuries ago when the Fair Maid of Galloway, Margaret Douglas, occupied the Balvenie Castle on Speyside Hill. After the death of her husband, 8th Earl of Douglas, the castle and its estate shifted ownership to King James II. Margaret however continued to live there, paying the King rent in the form of a single red rose each year. The flower became a symbol not only of intense beauty but that of extreme value. Over time the castle which had been left unoccupied for centuries came into disrepair however the power of the rose continues to live on in the latest expression from The Balvenie. The Second Red Rose is an intense and sweet 21-Year-Old liquid that embodies a burst of blackberries and ripe peach softness, offset with flavours of vibrant oak and cracked black pepper. The enchanting and exquisite hue of the liquid is a lasting tribute to the captivating red rose.
Bottled at 48.1% ABV, The Second Red Rose is described as having aromas of “intense ripe fruits combined with robust earthy tones, fresh mango, and subtle oak.” The palate has “an initial burst of blackberry and ripe peach sweetness, concealing flavors of vibrant oak and cracked black pepper leaving a gentle woody spice.” It concludes with a “lingering oakiness” on the finish.
The Balvenie Stories: A Rare Discovery from Distant Shores
A Rare Discovery from Distant Shores is a 27 year old single malt Scotch whisky finished in ex-Caroni rum casks. It tells the story of a rare Caribbean rum maturation that begins not in a distillery warehouse, but amongst the glistening bottle-lined shelves of The Balvenie’s Sample Room.
Inspired by the story of David C. Stewart MBE and his long-time friend and colleague John Barrett, A Rare Discovery from Distant Shores tells of the inspiration John gave The Balvenie Whisky Stocks team when he brought some very special samples of Caroni rum to The Balvenie’s sample room. John, who has a knack for finding interesting spirits from around the world, would bring his discoveries to David and the team as opportunities for innovation and experimentation, and as David recalls, the team was particularly excited by the Caroni samples.
Bottled at 48% ABV, A Rare Discovery from Distant Shores is described as having “rich and indulgent” aromas of “muscovado sugar, Manuka honey, lighter fruit notes, and hints of green banana and light spice.” The palate is “beautifully smooth with a velvet vanilla viscosity,” exhibiting “an initial burst of sweetness graduating to treacle toffee, aged leather, and deep oak tannin.” It concludes with a “lingering sweet” finish with “wonderful mouth-coating oiliness.”
The Balvenie Stories: The Tale of the Dog
The Tale of the Dog is a 42 year old single malt Scotch whisky that tells the story of Dennis McBain and how Warehouse 24 gained its first copper dog.
Inspired by one of The Balvenie’s longest-serving characters, The Tale of the Dog is recalled by Dennis McBain as one of his clearest memories of working at the distillery, from over 50 years ago. It celebrates the story of McBain as a young apprentice being exposed to a new world of distillery life, as a brewer asked for a copper dog – a little copper tube once used for siphoning off whisky straight from the cask – to be flattened and put back for its owner to find. The humbling tale taught McBain what a dog was, why the expression ‘taking a dog for a walk’ was used at the distillery, and that whoever it belonged to had been sent a message, but ultimately given a second chance. McBain’s memory then inspired his suggestion of using dogs instead of unwieldy valinches for distillery tour tastings. And so, every dog used in Warehouse 24 tours is there because of Dennis McBain and his early days at The Balvenie.
Bottled at 47%& ABV, The Tale of the Dog is described as having aromas of “the soft sweet fragrance from ripe dates and toffee, revealing geranium oil and a subtle mint musk.” The palate is exhibits “mouth-coating toffee and dates enveloping a light nutty honey spice and toasted oak,” concluding with an “oaky and lasting” finish.
The Balvenie Stories are now available in limited quantities across the U.S. at suggested retail prices of $459.99 for The Second Red Rose, $1,500 for A Rare Discovery from Distant Shores, and $14,500 for The Tale of the Dog.
Photo credit: The Balvenie.
Source: The Balvenie.