The Balvenie
Honey-sweet single malt from Dufftown in Speyside, made by a family-owned company that still does much of the work itself, from malting to making casks. Here you'll read which Balvenie suits you, what it tastes like and how to drink it.
A whisky made by craftspeople
The Balvenie is a single malt whisky from Dufftown, a small town in Speyside, the heart of Scottish whisky production. William Grant built the distillery in 1892, right next to his earlier distillery, Glenfiddich. Both still belong to William Grant & Sons, a company owned by his family.
Balvenie is known for its craftsmanship. The distillery still has its own malting floor where barley germinates, its own cooperage for the casks and its own coppersmith for the stills. Malt master David Stewart worked there for decades and became known for the idea of transferring whisky to a second type of cask after its first maturation. DoubleWood is the best-known example. Many distilleries now use this method, known as a finish. Balvenie's style is soft and rounded, with honey, vanilla and a hint of spice.
In brief
What types of Balvenie are there?
All Balvenies are first matured in American oak. The difference lies in the second step: a sherry cask, a rum cask, a Pineau cask, or, in the case of Week of Peat, the barley itself.
DoubleWood 12 Years
The classic: first American oak, then first-fill sherry casks. Honey, vanilla and spices, with a long finish.
Stories 12 Years American Oak
From the Stories range, created by Kelsey McKechnie. Extra maturation in new American oak from Kentucky brings more fruit and vanilla.
Caribbean Cask 14 Years
Fourteen years in American oak, then transferred to casks that previously held Caribbean rum. Toffee, tropical fruit and vanilla.
Stories 14 Years Week of Peat
One week a year, Balvenie distills with peated barley. The result: the house's honey-sweet style, with a layer of soft smoke.
16 Years French Oak
Sixteen years in American oak and then in French casks from Pineau des Charentes, a sweet wine from the Cognac region. Vanilla, honey and fruit.
Rare Marriages 25 Years
A blend of rare 25-year-old whiskies from European and American casks. Fruity, deep and smooth.
Start with the DoubleWood 12 Years. If you prefer something sweeter and fruitier, try the Caribbean Cask.
Honey, vanilla and soft spices
Honey & vanilla
Bright honey, vanilla and sweet fruit, with a hint of sherry and cinnamon. Caribbean Cask smells of toffee and tropical fruit.
Soft and rounded
Soft, creamy and rounded, with honey, nuts and warm spices. No smoke, except in the Week of Peat, where it remains soft in the background.
Long and warm
A warm, dry finish with oak and spices. With the older bottles, the fruit lingers for a long time.
Tasting profile of the DoubleWood 12 Years. The Week of Peat is smokier, while the 16 and 25 Years are fuller and more complex.
Three ways to drink The Balvenie
Balvenie is smooth enough to drink neat, even if you're just starting out. Take your time: the honey and spices only really open up after a few minutes.
Neat, with a drop of water
Pour 30 ml into a tulip-shaped tasting glass and let it stand for a few minutes. Taste it neat first, then with a few drops of water. With the 16 and 25 Years, water brings out extra fruit.
Glass: tasting glass →Highball
The American Oak and the DoubleWood make a good highball: 40 ml whisky over plenty of ice in a tall glass, topped up with cold sparkling water or ginger ale. Light and refreshing.
To the highball →On the rocks
With one large ice cube in a tumbler, the whisky stays cool without diluting quickly. Ideal for Caribbean Cask on a summer evening.
Glass: tumbler →Cocktails with The Balvenie
Balvenie has the sweet honey and vanilla that work well in classic whisky cocktails. Choose the DoubleWood or the American Oak.
Old Fashioned
Whisky, a sugar cube and bitters, with an orange zest. Balvenie honey gives it a rounded character.
Penicillin
Whisky with lemon, honey and ginger. Add a splash of Week of Peat on top for the smoky version.
Hot Toddy
Hot water, honey, lemon and whisky. Soft and warming for cold evenings.
Whisky cocktails
All whisky cocktails in one overview, from Whiskey Sour to Godfather.The right glass for The Balvenie
A tulip-shaped tasting glass concentrates Balvenie's honey and fruit notes. For on the rocks, a highball or an Old Fashioned, use a sturdy tumbler. These are the glasses we recommend ourselves.
Everything else you wanted to know about The Balvenie
Can't find your question? Browse our cocktail recipes or read more about Scotch.
To Scotch whisky →What percentage of alcohol is in The Balvenie?
Where does The Balvenie come from?
What does DoubleWood mean?
Is The Balvenie smoky?
What is the difference between Balvenie and Glenfiddich?
Which glass do you use for The Balvenie?
Buy The Balvenie
Want the bottle at home right away? Order The Balvenie online from Gall & Gall. Gall & Gall has 6 of them.
Prices from October 8, 2026, as provided by Gall & Gall. You can see the current price and stock at Gall & Gall. Glazen.nl receives a small commission if you buy something through these links; you pay nothing extra. No 18, no alcohol.