The Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Speyside, Scotland

Crafted with reverence for tradition and innovation alike, The Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky from Speyside, Scotland, showcases the pioneering spirit of Malt Master David C. Stewart MBE. Launched in 1993, this classic Speyside malt embodies the now-legendary wood finishing technique first developed by Stewart in the 1980s, a process that forever changed the landscape of Scotch whisky craftsmanship.

Product Details:

• ABV: 40%
• Age: 12 Years
• Cask Types: First matured in American oak ex-bourbon barrels; finished in European oak ex-Oloroso sherry casks
• Finish: Married in large oak tuns for 3–4 months
• Master Distiller: David C. Stewart MBE
• Malt Master: Kelsey McKechnie
• Owners: William Grant & Sons

Sensory Description:

The nose opens with sweet fruit and gentle waves of Oloroso sherry, balanced by soft layers of honey and vanilla. On the palate, the whisky is smooth and mellow, revealing nutty sweetness, cinnamon spice, and subtle sherry influence. The finish is long, warming, and harmoniously integrated, a refined expression of both time and craft.

Awards & Accolades:

• Gold – 2024, San Francisco World Spirits Competition
• Gold – 2024 & 2023, International Spirits Challenge
• Gold Outstanding – 2021, International Wine & Spirit Competition
• Grand Gold – 2021, San Francisco World Spirits Competition
• Bronze – 2024, International Wine & Spirit Competition
• Silver – 2023 & 2022, International Wine & Spirit Competition
• Silver (Tasting Awards) – 2022, International Spirits Challenge

Distiller's Background:

The Balvenie Distillery was established in 1892 by William Grant, who constructed the site on the grounds of the disused Balvenie New House. Today, The Balvenie is one of the last remaining distilleries in Scotland to maintain all five rare crafts of whisky-making on site: growing its barley, malting its grain, having its coppersmiths and coopers, and employing an in-house Malt Master. David C. Stewart MBE, the creative force behind the DoubleWood 12, served as Malt Master for decades before passing the role to Kelsey McKechnie, who has continued the legacy of excellence with over 10 years at the distillery.

Serving Suggestions:

Best served neat or with a few drops of water to awaken its layered complexities, The Balvenie DoubleWood 12 pairs beautifully with smoked almonds, hard cheeses, or spiced desserts like sticky toffee pudding. Ideal serving temperature: 18–22°C.

This expression is a testament to time-honored methods and modern ingenuity, delivering rich, honeyed elegance with every sip. With David Stewart’s pioneering vision and the steadfast stewardship of William Grant & Sons, The Balvenie DoubleWood 12 remains a cornerstone of the Speyside tradition and a global icon of Scottish whisky.