THE BALVENIE DCS CHAPTER

DCS Chapter 1 – Distillery Style

Through his long career as malt master, David C. Stewart MBE has been integral to the evolving essence of The Balvenie.

The Balvenie DCS Compendium Chapter One celebrates that essence by focusing on the sweet and honeyed character of the whisky and how this distillery style develops over time.

The rare whiskies in Chapter One range in age from nine years old, the youngest ever single cask whisky The Balvenie has released to date, to 46 years old, to demonstrate how The Balvenie’s distillery character evolves at different ages over time.

A noble case with an even nobler content: DCS Chapter 1

DCS CHAPTER 1 – DISTILLERY STYLE

1968 The Balvenie Single Cask Whisky

Aged 46 Years – Refill American Oak Hogshead

Filled 11th June 1968

TASTING NOTES:

Aroma: Malt and oak mingle with brown sugar, vanilla toffee, candied orange, cinnamon and ginger.
Taste: Velvety, with blossom honey, oak vanilla, a touch of citrus and low-key spiciness.
Finish: Gentle, lingering waves of vanilla and oak spices.

DAVID C STEWART MBE – THE BALVENIE MALT MASTER

„I think that the shape of The Balvenie stills is probably the most important part in determining the character of The Balvenie.“

DCS CHAPTER 1 – DISTILLERY STYLE

1978 Refill American Oak Hogshead

Aged 37 Years – Single Malt Whisky

Filled 11th March 1978

TASTING NOTES:

Aroma: Fragrant notes of lemon peel, layered with heather honey and mild oak spices.
Taste: Fresh citrus, candied orange, a touch of maple honey sweetness, gentle spice and subtle oak vanilla.
Finish: Delicate citrus, subtle spices and soft oak.

SAM SIMMONS- GLOBAL AMBASSADOR

„David insists the best way to really know The Balvenie in the first instance, to know the spirit, the people, the place, the whisky, is to experience it at various ages out of refill American oak.“

DCS CHAPTER 1 – DISTILLERY STYLE

1985 Refill American Oak Hogshead

Aged 30 Years – Single Malt Whisky

Filled 12th February 1985

TASTING NOTES:

DAVID C STEWART MBE – THE BALVENIE MALT MASTER

„I have always been intrigued by the different shapes of the stills around Scotland’s distilleries. The Balvenie has rather large stills and I was fascinated by how important they are to the quality of the eventual spirit of the liquid.“

DCS CHAPTER 1 – DISTILLERY STYLE

1997 Refill American Oak Hogshead

Aged 17 Years – Single Malt Whisky

Filled 9th June 1997

TASTING NOTES:

Aroma: Malty, with vanilla toffee, honey and a burst of cinnamon followed by butterscotch.
Taste: Beautiful depth of flavour with toffee sweetness, oak vanilla, runny honey and a gentle layer of spice.
Finish: Rich with a creamy sweetness and gentle spices.

DAVID C STEWART MBE – THE BALVENIE MALT MASTER

„David plans the future of every drop of new-make spirit, forecasting decades ahead with the confidence of a consistent result at the hands of the team of The Balvenie Craftsmen.“

DCS CHAPTER 1 – DISTILLERY STYLE

2005 Refill American Oak Hogshead

Aged 9 Years – Single Malt Whisky

Filled 6th May 2005

TASTING NOTES:

Aroma: Fresh, tangy orange peel, notes of barley sugar, vibrant vanilla and a touch of honey.
Taste: Sweet maltiness, fruit salad in vanilla syrup, a touch of citrus and delicate blossom honey.
Finish: Gentle with malty notes and orchard fruits.

DAVID C STEWART MBE – THE BALVENIE MALT MASTER

„Art, science and experience come together at the distillation stage as the cut has to be made to keep The Balvenie Distillery character as it should be.“

DISTILLERY STYLE

DCS Chapter 1 – 2015 Release

VINTAGE	CASK NO.	CASK TYPE	FILLING DATE
1968	7293	Refill American Oak Hogshead	11 Jun 1968
1978	2708	Refill American Oak Barrel	11 Mar 1978
1985	612	Refill American Oak Barrel	12 Feb 1985
1997	5365	Refill American Oak Barrel	09 Jun 1997
2005	6587	European oak Oloroso sherry butt	06 May 2005