Announced during this year's virtual Spirit of Speyside, The Balvenie team explained that the Doublewood 17 Year Old would be discounted, but urged fans to keep an eye out for what would replace it.
During an excellent virtual tour and tasting, global brand ambassador Gemma Paterson and distillery brand ambassador Charlie Metcalfe told festival goers that the expression would be getting phased out.
The older sibling to the Balvenie Doublewood 12 Year Old, the team say that the "17 Year Old has the same honeyed, spicy characteristics, but it is distinctly different, with deeper vanilla notes, hints of green apple, creamy toffee and a striking richness and complexity."
The Balvenie distillery was built by William Grant in 1892, following on the back of the success at Glenfiddich, and was originally intended to be named Glen Gordon.
Grant brought in equipment from Lagavulin and Glen Albyn and began production in 1893.
The first official distillery bottling arrived in 1973 and the now famous Founders reserve followed in 1982.
The distillery is one of the only ones that still do their own maltings.
