The Balvenie Tun 1509 Batch #1 Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Born in December 1839, William Grant became a cattle herder at the age of 7 in order to supplement his familys income. As a teenager, Grant apprenticed as a cobbler and a clerk, and in 1866, he joined Mortlach Distillery as a bookkeeper. For the next two decades, Grant managed the affairs at the distillery, while secretly learning the art of distillation. In 1886, he resigned from his position as distillery manager and bought a field beneath the towering shadows of Balvenie Castle, which he eventually converted into Balvenie Distillery. Today, Balvenie Distillery, situated in the Speyside region of Scotland, remains one of the most independent and prestigious distilleries in all of Scotland.Balvenie Single Malt Whisky is made from fresh, plump barley grown on Balvenie Mains, a 1,000 acre farm situated adjacent to the distillery (the farm has been the distillerys source for barley for over a century). After the barley is harvested, it is malted at the distillery with spring water sourced from the rolling Speyside hills that overlook the distillery. During the malting process, the barley is turned up to four times a day in order to ensure that it germinates evenly (Balvenie is the only single malt Scotch whisky distillery that continues to grow and malt its own barley).Once the barley has been malted, it is milled and mashed at the distillery before being fermented using a proprietary strain of yeast. Following fermentation, the wash is distilled twice, first through Balvenies copper-pot wash still and then again through its copper-pot spirit still. "The most important reason for using a copper still,"explains Dennis McBain, Balvenies coppersmith, "is that it acts as a catalyst. It removes any sulphur which may be carried over from the fermentation process prior to distillation."McBain, who joined Balvenie Distillery in 1959, is one of the oldest coppersmiths remaining in the industry.In addition, the size and shape of Balvenies stills the stills necks have unique boil balls that are nicknamed "Balvenie Bowls"- results in Balvenies signature bold and malty flavor profile. "The size and shape of the boil ball allow for the vapors to mix before continuing up the head,"explains McBain. "That helps make The Balvenie special."Balvenie Tun 1509 Batch #1 was made by marrying together 42 of the finest casks 35 traditional American Oak barrels and seven European oak sherry butts from Balvenies aging stock. Each of the casks was hand-selected by David Stewart, who has served as Balvenies Malt Master for the past five decades. Ive carefully considered each of the 42 whiskies in turn and they all bring something different to the table: combinations of spice, oak, delicacy and sweetness, says David Stewart.Once the whisky was blended together, Stewart rested it for several months in Tun 1509 one the distillerys unique marrying vessels to create a single malt that was greater than the sum of its already precious parts.Balvenie Tun 1509 Batch #1 has a deep amber color and a rich nose filled with floral notes, orange peel, burnt sugar and vanilla. The palate is velvety smooth, containing notes of coffee, cinnamon, cloves and red fruits particularly raisins and plums and leads long, complex finish complete with oak and blossom honey. Pick up one of these rare treasures today!