The Balvenie has unveiled The Rare Marriage range, a new collection of single malt Scotch whiskies. The line’s first release is The Balvenie Twenty-Five, with two other expressions to follow.
The Balvenie Rare Marriages collection pays homage to Malt Master David C. Stewart’s six-decade Scotch whisky career. It combines the skill and artistry of traditional oak Tun marriages with liquid from European and American casks.
Aged for 25 years, the whisky is a 48% ABV natural-colored and non-chill filtered liquid. Stewart combined liquid from individual casks to create “an incredibly intricate and balanced expression,” said the brand.
On the nose, the Scotch delivers soft autumn fruits, honey and crystallised ginger with an underlying oakiness. The palate features bold vanilla flavors with layers of toasted marshmallows, fruit terrine and cinnamon-infused apple tart. It finishes with long-lasting sweetness.
The Balvenie Twenty-Five is presented in a case that “symbolises the complex flavors in the marrying process.” The case features etched golden rings for every year of maturation.
Further expressions to be released from the Rare Marriages line are The Balvenie Thirty ( 44.2% ABV) and The Balvenie Forty (Cask Strength).
“The Balvenie has incredible depth of flavour, and our Rare Marriages Range is designed to unveil intricacies of our whisky in a bold marriage of extraordinary character,” said Stewart. “This range reflects the very essence of luxury through the experience of layers of flavours.
“On the surface, the first release of The Balvenie Twenty-Five expression is immediately recognisable as The Balvenie with the distinct rich honey and underlying rich oakiness however when given time, the flavour unfolds to reveal a whole new depth — from toasted marshmallow and caramelised pear to citrus richness and mellow oakiness.
“Made from casks that have stood the important test of time, this special whisky has a distinct profile and experience which we have designed to reveal the wonderful depth of The Balvenie Single Malt.”
“The Balvenie Twenty-Five reflects the unparalleled mastery and dedication of David C. Stewart MBE, the longest-serving Malt Master in the Scotch whisky industry,” said William Grant & Sons Head of Customer Marketing Greater Travel Retail Lindsay Rae-Hizeroth. “We are excited to release this premium expression into the global travel retail market this Summer.”
Talking about prospects in the travel retail channel, Rae-Hizeroth said, “The timing is also exciting as airports across the world begin to resume operations — after this very difficult period for the industry in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“There is sure to be pent-up demand from travellers seeking premium expressions as they travel again; and we are confident the Balvenie Twenty-Five will have the stand-out shelf appeal to help satisfy that demand. Together with a very select group of retail partners, we look forward to introducing the full Balvenie Rare Marriages Range to GTR later this year.”
The Balvenie Rare Marriages collection will be progressively launched with selected travel retailers beginning July 2021.
For more information on the Speyside distillery, head over to the brand’s official website.
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