Balvenie First Fill Single Barrel 12 Year Old
A great new addition to the Balvenie portfolio. These releases are a series of single cask whiskies, all of which are taken from 1st fill ex-Bourbon barrels.
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Balvenie First Fill Single Barrel 12 Year Old
Product Archives
The product details are for information purposes only. It is no longer available for sale, but you may be able to find in on our auction site.
Visit Celtic Whiskey AuctionsProduct Details
Tasting Notes from the Producer
Flavour
Sweet with good body, the bourbon characters develop with a gentle spice and a hint of vanilla.
Fact Sheet
Fluid
70cl
Alcohol %
47.8%
Types of Barrel used for Aging
Aged in a single 1st fill ex-Bourbon barrel.
Country
Scotland
Region/AOC
Speyside
Awards and/or Press Quotes
Awards and/or Press Quotes
Trophy - Distillers' Single Malts 12 years and under - 2016 - International Spirits Challenge
Gold Outstanding - Scotch Single Malt - Speyside - 2014 - International Wine & Spirit Competition
Trophy - Single Malt Scotch Whisky 15 years and under - 2014 - International Wine & Spirit Competition
FAQs
Generally no. Speyside is known for producing predominantly unpeated single malts with fruit, floral, malt, and oak character, driven by its inland geography and the quality of its soft spring water sources. Benriach and Braeval produce occasional peated expressions as secondary style releases, and BenRiach Curiositas and Smoke Season carry a noticeable peat character. However, the defining Speyside style, as exemplified by Glenfiddich, Macallan, Balvenie, and Dalwhinnie, is unpeated and fruit forward.
Yes, meaningfully. The Speyside region sits within the broader Highland designation but has its own distinct style driven by specific geography, water sources, and a concentration of prestigious distilleries. Highland whiskies, from distilleries outside Speyside such as Dalmore, Glenmorangie, Clynelish, and Old Pulteney, tend toward heavier, spicier, more robust character with greater variation by sub region. Speyside is more consistently lighter, fruitier, and more floral, with the River Spey watershed providing the unifying geographic factor.
Some Speyside distilleries use water from the River Spey or its tributaries, but many use independent spring water sources within the broader Speyside area rather than water drawn directly from the river. Glenfiddich uses the Robbie Dhu Spring, Glenlivet uses water from Josie's Well, and The Macallan draws from its own spring on the Easter Elchies estate. The quality and mineral content of the local spring water is consistently cited as a significant factor in the house character of Speyside single malts.
