{"product_id":"balvenie-25-year-old-rare-marriages-70cl","title":"Balvenie 25 Year Old Rare Marriages Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (2022) 70cl","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 28px;\"\u003eBalvenie 25 Year Old Rare Marriages Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (2022) 70cl\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"RichText_container__9OFb4\"\u003eRare Marriage\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"LongText_paragraph__pC68H\"\u003eIn a flawless whisky marriage, \u003cem\u003eHonorary Ambassador and Former Malt Master\u003c\/em\u003e \u003cem\u003eDavid C. Stewart MBE\u003c\/em\u003e brings together individual casks that have matured in \u003cem\u003etraditional American\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eEuropean Oak\u003c\/em\u003e to craft an incredibly intricate and balanced expression; exemplifying the art and skill of \u003cem\u003eSingle Malt tun marriages\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eThe Result\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"LongText_paragraph__pC68H\"\u003eA whisky of \u003cem\u003eexceptional\u003c\/em\u003e character, \u003cem\u003eTwenty-Five\u003c\/em\u003e hints at our most sought-after \u003cem\u003eBalvenie flavours \u003c\/em\u003e– bold vanilla oak, crystallised ginger and sweet runny honey.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"LongText_paragraph__pC68H\"\u003eAn excellent 25-year-old single malt here from the Balvenie Distillery up in Speyside, released as part of its Rare Marriages series. Having matured in a combo of European and American oak casks before being married in a tun (hence the name), this expression has had a quarter of a century to develop a rich, rewarding flavour profile.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout Balvenie \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"banner wrapper\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"banner-container\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"banner-content\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"banner-content-inner\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"introduction\"\u003eBalvenie distillery shares the same (massive) site with Glenfiddich and Kininvie but makes its whisky in a very different manner to its two sisters.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"pagenav js-fixed\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIts floor maltings have been retained and although this only makes up a small percentage (up to 15%) of the total mash, it is believed that it helps contribute character to the new make – the small amount of peat which is burned might help. Given that Balvenie has only opened to visitors in recent times, it certainly wasn’t kept for cosmetic or touristic reasons.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt’s a large distillery with nine, fat, short-necked stills producing a new make character which is notably sweet and honeyed – completely different to both Glenfiddich and Kininvie. Interestingly, when William Grant built its Ailsa Bay malt distillery in Girvan, the still shape replicated that of Balvenie, but the new make is different again.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis was one of the first distilleries to introduce a ‘finished’ single malt with the launch in 1993 of Double Wood, which was first aged in ex-Bourbon casks before being given a short period of secondary maturation (aka finishing) in ex-Sherry. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis utilisation of different wood types runs through the Balvenie range with a new 17-year-old Double Wood recently joining Caribbean Cask (ex-rum) 14 year old, and the 21-year-old Port Wood as part of the core range. As well as single barrel releases and older age variants up to 50 years in the range, a cult small batch, Tun 1401, has also recently appeared, followed by Tun 1509.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBalvenie was built on a 12 acre site adjacent to Glenfiddich in 1892\/3. Originally known as Glen Gordon it took the name of the huge (ruined) castle which was located next door. The ‘new’ castle, already derelict in 1893, was turned into maltings.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe distillery provided fillings, primarily for the Grant’s Standfast blend, until 1973 when the first official bottling was made. Its continued requirements as a contributor to blends initially restricted its growth as a stand-alone brand (although increasing its cult status). This was eased slightly with the opening of Kininvie in 1990, but it was only with the building of Ailsa Bay that greater stocks were finally made available. It is now one of the fastest-growing single malt brands in the world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e48% ABV\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e70cl\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Balvenie","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52785062805842,"sku":"5010327515892","price":599.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1052\/9737\/9666\/files\/4095115078.jpg?v=1771932229","url":"https:\/\/whiskysituation.co.uk\/products\/balvenie-25-year-old-rare-marriages-70cl","provider":"Whisky Situation","version":"1.0","type":"link"}