The Balvenie Releases the Sixth Batch in the Handcrafted Tun 1401 Series

NEW YORK, Oct. 19, 2012 — /PRNewswire/ —  The Balvenie, the world’s most handcrafted Single Malt Scotch Whisky, introduces another exceptional whisky in the celebrated Tun 1401 range, The Balvenie Tun 1401 Batch 6, available in most states nationwide beginning October 2012.  Crafted by the industry’s longest-serving Malt Master, David Stewart, the limited-edition Balvenie Tun 1401 Batch 6 is the second batch to be released exclusively in the United States.

Inspired by and produced in one of the oldest warehouses at The Balvenie Distillery, Balvenie Tun 1401 Batch 6 features liquid that has matured in nine different casks. The special vatting is a combination of seven traditional whisky casks and two sherry butts, finished in the legendary Tun 1401 – a traditional oak marrying vessel, in which the finest aged casks from the distillery warehouses are combined.  The ages of the rare casks span a number of decades and have been hand-selected by David Stewart and cared for by the distillery’s onsite team of coopers.

‘The Balvenie is privileged to have some the rarest whisky maturing at our distillery,” said David Stewart, Balvenie Malt Master. “The Balvenie is unique among whiskies in that it maintains complete control of all the rare crafts that go into creating our special single malt Scotch whisky.  Five rare crafts and a long wait have gone into making the complex Tun 1401 Batch 6, and it is important that this single malt meets the expectations of what has become a sought after release for The Balvenie drinker and whisky enthusiasts in the United States.”

The sixth batch in the Tun 1401 series is an unrepeatable marriage of single malt that is fragrant and fruity with barley sugar sweetness and soft vanilla. The liquid is sweet at the start, followed by a luscious explosion of tangy citrus and gentle spices. Notes of honey combined with rich vanilla syrup and hints of oak tannin give a rich finish with a lingering sweetness.

The Balvenie Tun 1401 Batch 6 has an ABV of 49.8% and a recommended retail price of $250.00.

The first batch of Tun 1401 was released in 2011, for sale only at The Balvenie Speyside Distillery while other batches have been available in select markets around the world. The US exclusive release of Tun 1401 Batch 6 follows the award winning Tun 1401 Batch 3, which won the IWSC Trophy and Gold medal in 2011. Judges were impressed with the liquid’s intensely aromatic and beautifully balanced flavors, proclaiming it a very interesting whisky.

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About The Balvenie The Balvenie is a unique range of Single Malt whiskies hand crafted in Scotland’s Speyside region by William Grant & Sons.  Created by internationally renowned malt master David Stewart, The Balvenie is unique in that it retains complete control over the five rare crafts that go into the production of its acclaimed whisky: nowhere else will you find a distillery that still grows its own barley, malts in its own traditional malting floor, employs coopers to tend every cask, a coppersmith to maintain the stills and a malt master to ensure that the resulting spirit is consistently excellent.  It is this dedicated to producing a truly handcrafted whisky that has led to the Balvenie receiving the highest plaudits at a range of international spirits competitions, with the Balvenie 21 Year Old Portwood recently picking up the Single Malt Trophy at both the International Spirits Challenge and the International Wine and Spirits competition.

About The Balvenie The Balvenie core range includes The Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year Old ($49.99), The Balvenie 14 Year old Caribbean Cask ($60.99), The Balvenie Single Barrel 15 Year Old ($71.99), The Balvenie DoubleWood 17 Year Old ($129.99). The Balvenie PortWood 21 Year Old ($169.99) in addition to a variety of limited release expressions.  For further information visitwww.thebalvenie.com.

About William Grant & Sons: William Grant & Sons, Ltd. is an independent family-owned distiller headquartered in the United Kingdom and founded by William Grant in 1887. Today, the luxury spirits company is run by the fifth generation of his family and distills some of the world’s leading brands of Scotch whisky, including the world’s most awarded single malt Glenfiddich®, The Balvenie® range of handcrafted single malts and the world’s fourth largest blended Scotch Grant’s® as well as other iconic spirits brands such as Hendrick’s® Gin, Sailor Jerry® Rum, Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey and the award-winning Milagro® Tequila.

Among the most recent accolades for the well-awarded company, William Grant & Sons was honored as the “Distiller of the Year” by the International Wine & Spirit Competition for the second year running and the fourth time since 1999. When counted along with the same designation from the International Spirits Challenge, William Grant & Sons has received this title an unprecedented nine times in the past 12 years.

Founded in 1964, William Grant & Sons USA is a wholly-owned subsidiary of William Grant & Sons, Ltd. and features one of the fastest growing spirits portfolios in the USA with brands including Glenfiddich, The Balvenie, Hendrick’s Gin, Sailor Jerry Rum, Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey, Milagro Tequila, Stolichnaya Vodka, Grant’s, Hudson Whiskey, Gibson’s Finest, Monkey Shoulder, Clan MacGregor, Reyka Vodka, Solerno Blood Orange Liqueur, Lillet, Art In The Age, The Knot and BOLS cordials. The company has offices in New York City (sales and marketing) and Edison, NJ (bottling and warehouse facilities). For more information on the company and its brands, please visit www.grantusa.com.

SOURCE The Balvenie