The popular single malt has unveiled the latest expression to join its The Balvenie Stories range.
The Edge of Burnhead Wood 19-Year-Old joins the Stories collection, which was first launched by the distillery in May 2019.
The Balvenie Stories range is a collection of single malt whiskies representing tales of character, endeavour and generational knowledge gathered at The Balvenie Distillery in Dufftown, Speyside.
The team say that the new release is "inspired by the fragrant, heather-cloaked highlands which surround The Balvenie Distillery, The Edge of Burnhead Wood is a delicately fruity and fragrant expression of The Balvenie, crafted with heather and tells a tale of exploration and craft, culminating in the first ever expression of whisky made entirely from ingredients grown on its Dufftown estate."
The expression brings the total number of bottles in the Stories range to four, joining The Sweet Toast of American Oak 12-Year-Old, A Week of Peat 14-Year-Old and A Day of Dark Barley 26-Year-Old.
The whisky, which is made from locally sourced ingredients found in the distillery grounds — home-grown barley malted at The Balvenie Maltings, water from the Convel hills, and fresh heather from Burnhead Wood — retains the familiar Balvenie taste, with a delicate fruitiness, as well as notes of light spice and juicy fruits.
The Balvenie team describe it as having: "a balanced honeyed sweetness and spicy outburst with hints of cloves and caramelised baked dates develops to reveal an underlying oaky dryness, whilst a lingering oaky finish features notes of fragrant dried blossom."
Commenting on the release of The Edge of Burnhead Wood, malt master David C. Stewart MBE said: “Stories are the lifeblood of The Balvenie Distillery and are deeply embedded in all the work that we do.
"The story behind The Edge of Burnhead Woodcaptures the majestic Speyside landscape and the inventive essence of The Balvenie’s loyal and determined craftspeople.
"In this way, The Edge of Burnhead Wood sums up the spirit of the work carried out at The Balvenie Distillery; The Balvenie remains true to the techniques and stories passed down by its craftsmen from generation to generation, while also looking forward by exploring new techniques, flavours and marriages to develop unique and original Balvenie expressions.”
Storytelling is carried through every aspect of The Edge of Burnhead Wood - with its tale depicted on the whisky’s packaging in a bespoke illustration from British artist and printmaker Andy Lovell.
Andy’s work, which draws its inspiration direct from the distillery, can also been seen across the labels for the entire Balvenie Stories range.
It uses bold, hand-made gestural marks to build up images that capture the evocative light and atmosphere of the distillery’s landscape.
The texture and tactility of Andy’s work emphasises the importance of the human hand in the production of The Balvenie whiskies.
Drinkers can hear the story of The Edge of Burnhead Wood via a specially recorded podcast series, featuring the craftsmen behind the expression, as well as The Balvenie global ambassador Gemma Paterson and malt master David C. Stewart.
The Edge of Burnhead Wood 19-Year-Old is available in select whisky retailers, RRP £260.00
The entire Balvenie Stories collection is currently available in select whisky retailers, at the following prices; The Sweet Toast of American Oak 12-Year-Old (RRP £45.00), The Week of Peat 14-Year-Old (RRP £65.00) and A Day of Dark Barley 26-Year-Old (RRP £600.00).
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