The Balvenie – 12 Year Old Stories: The Sweet Toast of American Oak (70cl, 43%)

This is a 12 year old single malt from The Balvenie in Dufftown, bottled at 43% abv in a 70cl bottle. It is part of the Stories series. The whisky takes its character from American oak casks and a distinctive toasting process, developed at The Balvenie Cooperage. Ian McDonald, who is marking his fiftieth year at the distillery, talks about that process and about mentoring generations of apprentices. The story also follows the journey of the American oak casks to Kentucky with Apprentice Malt Master Kelsey McKechnie.