The 19 Year Old, limited-edition whisky will be released in August 2023 as part of the Stories Collection; a rich single malt aged entirely in European Oak Oloroso Sherry Casks.

• A 19 Year Old limited-edition whisky with full-term maturation in European Oloroso Sherry Casks
• The only whisky in the Stories Collection that is 100% Sherry-cask matured
• The liquid tells the tale of expertise, intuition and the craft of coopering
• After taking over from David C. Stewart MBE this is the first release designed solely by The Balvenie’s Malt Master, Kelsey McKechnie
• Available from 1st August 2023 for £307 RRP

The Balvenie today announces the latest whisky in its Stories Collection, ‘A Revelation of Cask and Character’, a 19 Year Old limited edition whisky, available from 1st August 2023.

A Revelation of Cask and Character tells the tale of expertise, intuition, and the craft of coopering. This particular sherry oak maturation is the result of years of curiosity, learning and honing of technique and its limited quantity means the liquid will only be available for two years. It is the only whisky within the Stories Collection to be matured entirely in Sherry casks, delivering a rich and luxurious flavour profile unlike any other in the collection.  Sherry has long played an integral role in the history and development of Scotch Single Malt Whisky, and A Revelation Of Cask And Character pays homage to its influence.

The release is the first whisky in The Balvenie range to be designed solely by Kelsey McKechnie since she stepped into the role of Malt Master for The Balvenie last year, following a six-year apprenticeship under the careful guidance of David C. Stewart MBE.

Kelsey McKechnie, Malt Master said: “Not many distillers have a cooperage on-site and it is so important to the development of our exceptional whiskies. We have a collaborative process with our coopers, which offers flexibility in ideas and innovation, allowing us to experiment with different casks to explore new flavours. By maturing the whisky entirely in European Oloroso Sherry casks, drinkers experience new depths of spice, rich toffee and honey that are soon met with toasted oak, providing an overflowing heat.”

David C. Stewart MBE, said: “The introduction of A Revelation of Cask and Character reflects the dedication and skill, and emphasises the credentials of the incredible craftspeople behind the whisky. Not only does this liquid tell the story of the cooper, but it is the first expression designed solely by Kelsey, in which she has mastered the understanding of not just whisky, but of wood, and its impact on the maturation process.”

With a focus on the characters and the cooperage (both in Speyside and Jerez), the launch tells us more about how the Makers; Ian McDonald (Head Cooper), Jack Lomas and Liam Henderson (both newly qualified Coopers) hone their mastery of wood to make such a unique expression possible.

Ian McDonald, Head Cooper, who started his career with an apprenticeship at The Balvenie in 1969 said: “The coopering team – which is now twenty people, including 11 fully-qualified coopers, four new apprentice coopers and five support team members – plays a huge part in the creation of all The Balvenie whiskies. Coopering is the original form of recycling; we always repair old casks, which adds to the rich flavours of the spirits. Our coopers work their way up through a four-year apprenticeship scheme with skills passed from generation to generation, contributing to the whisky creation through cask repair, as exemplified with the Spanish Sherry casks used for A Revelation of Cask and Character.”

With a nose of intense ripe fruits and caramelised orange peel, beautifully balancing toasted oak and milled barley. The taste is bold, with flavours of currants, cherries and raisins, which give way to chewy fig and a creamy nutty finish.

The elements of storytelling continue through the packaging, with a bespoke illustration by British artist and printmaker Andy Lovell which beautifully depicts the cooperage at The Balvenie Distillery.

The release joins other Balvenie Stories expressions such as the 12 Year Old ‘The Sweet Toast of American Oak’, 14 Year Old ‘Week of Peat’ 19 Year Old ‘The Edge of Burnhead Wood’, and 27 Year Old ‘A Rare Discovery From Distant Shores’ bringing to life the stories of the places where the whisky is made and celebrating the creativity, passion and curiosity of its Makers.

A Revelation of Cask and Character will be available to purchase from The Whisky Shop from August for £307 RRP