| Producer | Balvenie |
| Country | Scotland |
| Region | Speyside |
| Style | Single Malt Scotch Whisky |
| Sku | 28301 |
| Size | 750ml |
 |
A 16-year-old single malt from Balvenie's Cask Finishes range that was initially matured in American oak casks, before being finished in French oak Pineau des Charentes casks. Aromas of lotus blossom, geranium, green apple skin and spring meadows fill the nose, complemented by notes of lemon rind, grapefruit, ginger, vanilla, honey and candied fruit throughout the palate.
Often called a fortified wine, Pineau des Charentes is a fruity and refreshing drink that’s not actually made with any wine at all. It’s a combination of either unfermented grape juice — either red or white — and young Cognac that is then aged in oak barrels to marry the ingredients and produce something that’s a beloved aperitif in the Cognac region.
It was the Balvenie’s US brand ambassador, Lorne Cousin, who originally suggested finishing some of their whisky in Pineau casks, after he and his family enjoyed the aperitif on a trip to the region. Balvenie’s malt master, David Stewart MBE, may not have thanked him for the idea, as it took more than eight years to find the casks which would marry perfectly with their whisky!
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