The Balvenie Stories A Revelation of Cask and Character Review

The Balvenie has recently unveiled the newest addition to its Stories collection, launching it with style in the Netherlands. The whisky is limited edition, not just any ordinary dram, but one that tells a profound story. Discover if this whisky is right for you in our review of The Balvenie Stories A Revelation of Cask and Character.

The Balvenie's new whisky is the ninth dram in a line of whiskies that each tell a story. The expression follows The Balvenie's The Sweet Toast of American Oak, The Tale of the Dog, and A Rare Discovery from Distant Shores; respectively 12, 42 and 27-year-old whiskies. A Revelation of Cask and Character nestles neatly in age between this collection, boasting a 19-year age statement.

A Revelation of Cask and Character is not just a new expression in the Stories Collection. It is the first significant release by Kelsey McKechnie, malt master at the distillery. With this whisky, she celebrates the tale of the dedicated staff in the cooperage. These individuals, according to McKechnie, are critically important, as they provide the distillery with 'the flexibility in ideas and innovation, allowing them to experiment and discover new flavors'.

McKechie made full use of this option with A Revelation of Cask and Character. The whisky has exclusively matured in large Oloroso sherry casks made of European oak, something never before done in The Balvenie Stories series. The result is a dark amber liquid that blends fruity tones with those of cocoa and figs.

The Balvenie Stories A Revelation of Cask and Character is more than just a whisky with a name that refers to cooperage. The whisky comes in a special tube, as is the case with the rest of the Stories expressions. On this tube, alongside The Balvenie logo, the age statement, and the name of the dram, is the theme around which the whisky revolves.

Beneath a large plume of smoke, you can see a man with a cask being clearly charred by a cooperage employee. Around this are various details to discover, from the staves being checked to the steel hoops and lids that eventually form the casks.

The Balvenie Stories A Revelation of Cask and Character is a whisky that radiates sherry in all respects. The color is beautifully deep amber thanks to the nineteen years of sleep in the large barrels, and it is a quite creamy liquid that leaves an attractive trail in the glass.

On the nose, this is not a whisky that politely knocks on the door, but rather one that barges in, such is its richness of aromas. Aromas of spicy cherries, leather, and lavender honey pave the way to a deeper layer of orange, ginger, sweeter berries, and raisins promising a complex taste. This is excellent news for enthusiasts who enjoy a complex whisky and like to take the time to discover the aromas calmly.

The flavor aligns neatly with the complexity of the nose. The Stories whisky gives a gentle prickling sensation on the tongue with flavors of dried (red) fruit, cherries, raisins, combined with underlying layers of dark chocolate, and somewhat peppery spices. In a beautiful, long finish, the spicier tones gradually fade to leave a somewhat sweet and dry farewell to your mouth.

The Balvenie Stories A Revelation of Cask and Character is a whisky you do not casually enjoy in an hour on any given evening. Of course, you could, but considering the price tag of the bottle and the complexity of the dram, it would be rather unfortunate. It's a liquid to enjoy at leisure and one that is clearly targeted at seasoned whisky lovers, especially those with a preference for sherry.

+ A whisky with a story

+ Long finish to savor

+ The complexity invites discovery

- Not a dram for the novice whisky lover