The Balvenie – American Oak 12 Year Old (70cl, 43%)

The Balvenie American Oak 12 Year Old is a Speyside single malt matured for at least 12 years in ex-bourbon American oak casks. It is then finished in heavily toasted new American oak barrels from Kentucky, and it comes in a 70cl bottle at 43%. It is the first whisky in the Balvenie Stories collection, which tells of the character, effort and craftsmanship of the people who have worked at the distillery over the generations. The nose brings sweet caramel, citrus and vanilla-tinged oak alongside spicy ginger and warm cinnamon. On the palate, candied orange peel, vanilla cake and chocolate give way slowly to toffee, honey and rich spice.