Balvenie 21 yo Port Wood

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 40% | Chill filtration: Yes | Colouring: Yes

Special Features:

Finishing in former port wine casks shapes Balvenie PortWood. Following initial maturation in traditional oak casks, selected Balvenie whiskies are married and transferred to Port Pipes for further maturation. These casks previously held port wine and add another cask influence to the mature single malt.

David C. Stewart MBE developed this expression, which has been available since 1996. During finishing, the Malt Master regularly checks cask samples to ensure that the port wine influence complements the existing character rather than overwhelming it. This 21-year-old official bottling has an alcohol content of 40% and comes in a bottle containing 0.7 litres, with gift packaging.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: On the nose, fruity aromas and ripe raisin notes combine with a dry, nutty note.
• Palate: The whisky feels creamy and silky on the palate. Fruit, honey and spice notes define its flavour.
• Finish: The finish is long and gentle, with nutty notes.

Distillery/Bottler:

William Grant built the Balvenie Distillery in Speyside beside Glenfiddich; distillation first took place there in 1893. The distillery still grows some of its own barley and operates its own floor maltings. After being steeped in spring water, the barley is spread across the malting floor and turned by hand before being dried.

The stills and casks are also maintained on site: a coppersmith looks after the copper stills, whose shape and size have changed little since the early days. The distillery's own cooperage prepares and repairs the casks, using wood toasting to control their aromatic influence. Together with cask selection and the Malt Master's tasting work, these activities form the five crafts that Balvenie preserves under the name Five Rare Crafts.

Facts: