The Balvenie 'A Collection of Curious Casks' American Bourbon Barrel 14 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky 750ml

Product Description

A single cask fully matured in American oak barrels which have previously held bourbon. This whisky has unique notes of smouldering oak, layered with candied orange and woody vanilla. Behind the weighty warehouse door lies a cavernous space filled with the heady aroma of wood and whisky. As your eyes slowly adjust to the darkness, thousands of casks are revealed. Shafts of light from the small warehouse windows illuminate the meticulously stacked library of liquid treasures... There are the classics, and amongst them, rare and striking single casks, yet to be discovered. Admist this scene one man waits, dressed in a simple black t-shirt, despite Speyside's frosty temperatures. A second figure approaches, heralded by the sound of light footsteps which echo around the lofty warehouse. As usual, their conversation is punctuated by peals of laughter. After delivering her sample requests, our Malt Master, Kelsey McKechnie makes her way to the tasting room, leaving George Paterson alone in his natural habitat. He doesn't linger long; he has a job to do. They have worked in this easy way as long as George has been Warehouse and Samples Coordinator. Kelsey provides the guiding vision and know-how and in her words, George is "the dedicated man on the ground," with a keen mental map of the warehouses that guide his daily rounds. Always quick with a smile, and sometimes a well-meaning prank, genuine joy for his role radiates from him. The two make a perfect alliance. These all-important rendezvouz are also an opportunity for George to flag anything he finds interesting. One notable cask kept being picked for a 40-year-old marriage and George recalls saying to Kelsey "please no, it's just too good to be blended away." After replying that "he would have to let it go one of these days," it was eventually tipped whilst he was on holiday, but not into the marriage it was originally fated for. This memorable single cask went on to become The Tale of the Dog, a proof point of the pair's sharp instincts and intuition. George has been watching over our precious casks and shepherding them to distinction for over a decade. A lot can happen in the span of ten years; daily routines are fossilled into ritual and unexpected discoveries can become legends. It's these weird and wonderful outlier whiskies, born of interesting experiments, unique woods, and curioys whims that George takes a shine to. His desire to share these rare treats makes him the perfect host for warehouse tastings, which he runs with Global Ambassador, Charlie Metcalfe. "Quite the showman, he'll draw samples with proud ceremony, using a custom valinch hand made by coppersmith Dennis McBain. This valinch is always polished to perfection, playfully winking in the light," almost as if it's alive with the same joyous mischief as the man himself. These tastings typically feature "unique and unexpecte dcharacter, unusual casks that no one else has seen before -- anything with a jaw-drop factor," elaborates George. And thus, the whiskies released under this Story are inspired by just that, with Kelsey selecting an exquisite range of curious single casks that embody some of our finest hidden gems. It's true that much of the making of our great whisky happens within the privacy of the casks. Flavour blooms, richness rises and layers settle in for the long haul, an alchemy encased in well-chosen wood. However, there's a little something extra that makes our whiskies so special, and that takes place outside these precious vessels; the spark of brilliant ideas born from a simple conversation between friends amongst the casks.