Balvenie – 16 Years French Oak Pineau Cask (70cl, 47.6%)

This is The Balvenie 16 Years French Oak Pineau Cask, a single malt bottled at 47.6% in a 70cl bottle. In 2022 the distillery released its first single malt shaped by French oak, in a history of around 130 years. The whisky spent most of its time in American bourbon casks, then went on for an unspecified period into French casks that had held red Pineau de Charentes, a blend of grape must and eau de vie from the Cognac region. The nose brings gingerbread, light sponge cake and some grapefruit. The palate shows almond pastry, apricots, geranium, vanilla butter and toasted cedar. The finish carries citrus, honey and melon.