Balvenie 17 yo The Week of Peat

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 49.4% | Chill filtration: No | Colouring: Yes

Special Features:

The Week of Peat reveals a smoky side of Balvenie that stems from a special production week. Since 2002, the distillery has devoted one week each year to making whisky from peated malt. This seventeen-year-old bottling belongs to the Balvenie Stories range, which focuses on the people and decisions behind whisky production.

The idea grew out of Ian Millar’s interest in peat following a visit to Islay. In this bottling, smoke meets the distillery’s honey-led house character, complemented by vanilla and citrus notes. The whisky matures in ex-bourbon casks for 17 years.

The whisky is bottled at 49.4% and is not chill-filtered. The bottle contains 0.7 litres and comes in cylindrical packaging.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: On the nose, restrained peat smoke accompanies heather, orange peel and light tropical fruit notes. Subtle butterscotch and sweet vanilla add to the aromas.
• Palate: The whisky feels velvety and rounded on the palate. Peat smoke balances the citrus notes, while oak, vanilla and floral honey complete the flavours.
• Finish: Gentle smoke lingers on the finish, accompanied by lasting, creamy vanilla sweetness.

Distillery/Bottler:

William Grant built Balvenie Distillery in Speyside beside Glenfiddich; distillation began there in 1893. Balvenie still grows some of the barley it uses and operates its own floor maltings. After steeping, the barley is spread across the malting floor and turned by hand before being dried in the kiln.

The upkeep of the stills and casks also remains closely tied to the distillery site. A coppersmith looks after the stills, whose shape and size have changed little since the early days. The on-site cooperage team prepares and maintains the casks and toasts the wood. The Balvenie Stories range explores these working methods and the experiences of the people involved through its bottlings.

Facts: