Balvenie – 17 Year Old The Week of Peat (70cl, 49.4%)

The Week of Peat is a 17-year-old Balvenie matured in former bourbon casks. Since 2002 the distillery has devoted one week each year to making whisky from peated malt, an idea that began with Ian Millar's interest in peat after a visit to Islay. This bottling belongs to the Balvenie Stories series. Smoke meets the honeyed house character, with vanilla and citrus. It is bottled at 49.4% without chill filtration, in a 70cl bottle. The nose shows restrained peat smoke with heather, orange peel, light tropical fruit, butterscotch and sweet vanilla. The palate is velvety, with peat balancing the citrus, and the finish leaves gentle smoke and creamy vanilla sweetness.