4.7/5 with 10,000+ reviews
The Balvenie Tun has attracted a cult following all over the world with each release usually selling out within days. Their latest release could prove to be even more popular with only 643 bottles available to purchase within the UK.
Balvenie’s Tun 1509 series was introduced in 2014 to replace the company’s earlier Tun 1402, which began as a distillery exclusive in 2010 and sold out immediately.
For both series, David Stewart, Balvenie’s legendary Malt Master, selected a number of casks of varying volumes, strengths and ages – nothing younger than 22 years in the 1402 series; my guess is the same for Tun 1509 series. He then disgorged the casks into a large marrying tun – hence the name; there is no significance in the number: tuns 1402 and 1509 were simply the most convenient. To create the second batch of Tun 1509, David chose 32 casks – 23 traditional American oak hogsheads and barrels, seven European oak sherry butts and two ex-sherry hogsheads. All were transferred to Tun 1509, which sits in Balvenie’s famous Warehouse 24, for several months to marry before bottling. Marrying allows the different whiskies to mingle together and create a unique expression of The Balvenie which, as blenders say – ‘is greater than the sum of its constituent parts.’ Bright amber. A soft, rich aroma, with ripe plums and prunes, topped by an intriguing fragrant note – rose water, scented hand-cream – and enlivened by a fresh, nose-cooling squeeze of orange zest. Joined by vanilla ice cream after a while. Deliciously feminine. The taste is sweet, fragrant and tannic, with white pepper and light, creamy vanilla; a lengthy finish. At (slightly) reduced strength the aroma is unchanged; if anything, the taste characteristics are exaggerated. This release has been created using 32 casks, 23 of which were American oak and 9 were European sherry. Each cask was hand selected by master blender David Stewart. Bottled at 50.3% volume 8500 bottles produced in total.
