Balvenie – 18 Year Old French Pineau Cask

This is an 18 year old Balvenie single malt finished in French Pineau casks. The casks come from David Stewart's early experiment with finishing The Balvenie in Pineau. The first results were not what he had hoped for, so he tried another source of Pineau, which led to French Oak 16. This batch stayed in the original casks and was discovered after 8 years in Pineau. The nose is toasted oak and delicate spice with smooth butterscotch and hints of ripe berries. On the palate, spice and rich sweetness sit over creamy vanilla and honey, leading to gentle oaky tannins.