The Balvenie 19 Year Old A Revelation of Cask & Character Single Malt Scotch Whisky

The Balvenie 19 Year Old A Revelation of Cask & Character tells the tale of expertise, intuition, and the craft of coopering — a Speyside single malt that is the result of years of curiosity and learning from The Balvenie coopering team, including Head Cooper Ian McDonald, and the story of how sherry casks became a staple part of Scotch whisky, presenting Kelsey McKechnie’s ‘really rich expression with familiar honey smoothness revealing layers of spice and intense ripe fruits’ at 19 years.

The journey begins with Head Cooper Ian McDonald’s 2009 trip to a bodega in Jerez, Spain — where he was inspired by what he witnessed of the sherry cask tradition. The folklore of oak casks transporting whisky across the British Isles hundreds of years ago — the whisky taking on depth and richness from whatever the casks previously held — forms the narrative foundation of the expression. In A Revelation of Cask & Character, that historical discovery becomes conscious choice: the 19-year Balvenie specifically matured to showcase the journey of The Balvenie’s coopers and the transformative influence of sherry casks. Malt Master Kelsey McKechnie describes the result as ‘the perfect way to showcase the journey of our Coopers.’ Browse all Balvenie at Wooden Cork.

Tasting Notes

• Character: A really rich expression with familiar honey smoothness revealing layers of spice and intense ripe fruits — in the words of Malt Master Kelsey McKechnie, ‘the perfect way to showcase the journey of our Coopers’ at 19 years

Specs

• Distillery: The Balvenie, Dufftown, Speyside (est. 1892; William Grant & Sons)
• Region: Speyside, Scotland
• Series: Stories Series (Seventh Edition) — A Revelation of Cask & Character
• Age Statement: 19 Years
• Malt Master: Kelsey McKechnie
• Head Cooper: Ian McDonald
• ABV: 48.7%
• Size: 700ml

Browse all Scotch whisky at Wooden Cork.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the coopering story that inspired A Revelation of Cask & Character?

The expression is inspired by Head Cooper Ian McDonald’s 2009 trip to a bodega in Jerez, Spain, where he observed the traditional sherry cask system. The revelation of how sherry casks accumulated their character — and how that character transfers into whisky — inspired years of curiosity and learning that produced this specific expression. Limited allocation. Order online.