Balvenie's New 1931 Collection To Showcase 12 Year Old & 15 Year Old Expressions

The Balvenie has fully unveiled its new The 1931 Collection, rounding out the trio of expressions with 12 and 15 year old limited editions.

The brand had earlier unveiled an 88 year old expression as the collection's centrepiece. Bottled at 43.2% ABV, just 17 bottles of the 88-year-old whisky exist, bottled in 2019 by Malt Master Kelsey McKechnie.

It is also the oldest ever bottled Scotch whisky.

The 12 year old is crafted from 100% Home Malted Barley, and is inspired by the pioneering spirit first awakened in 1931. It is said to offer a contemporary interpretation of The Balvenie's enduring commitment to making whisky by hand. 

It is matured in American oak and finished in ex-Sherry Bodega European oak butts from Jerez, echoing the origin of the original 1931 cask. The expression promises notes of creamy toffee, delicate ginger, aromatic oak and mellow barley sweetness, which is said to segue into crystallised ginger, raisin and a smooth, spiced finish. 

On the other hand, the 15 year old is also crafted entirely from estate-grown, in-house malted barley. The Balvenie 1931 Collection 15-Year-Old represents an authentic farm-to-bottle expression and is available exclusively across Global Travel Retail. It benefits from the sake maturation and finishing process.

On the nose, the expression is said to provide soft sweetness and golden malt, which then gives way to layers of honey, toasted oak and gentle spice.

The palate promises notes of creamy vanilla, orchard fruit, warm biscuit and mellow oak, before heading into a long, elegant finish with lingering sweetness and a finely balanced spice. 

Kanpai!

88 Bamboo Editorial Team