The eagerly anticipated final chapter in The Balvenie DCS Compendium Chapter Five, titled ‘Malt Master’s Indulgence’ s comprised of five unique and rare vintages carefully selected by Malt Master David C. Stewart, MBE, for their significance to his career
Stewart is one of the whisky industry’s longest-serving Malt Masters, with just over 57 years’ experience.
Aged between 16and 56years, the five rare liquids include the oldest ever whisky to be released by The Balvenie–a fragrant and sweet1962vintage (aged 56 years), taken from a European oak Oloroso sherry hogshead, that commemorates David’s very first year at the distillery and the start of his life-changing relationship with The Balvenie.
A luscious 1974vintage with malty notes of honey and orange peel celebrates the year of his appointment as Malt Master, while a 1983 vintage with hints of vanilla and butterscotch flavors, marks the start of his experimentation with maturation–a pivotal moment in his whisky odyssey.
A vibrant 2001vintage European oak Fino sherry butt, that puts forth gorgeous orchard fruit notes with oaky spiciness, is a testament to the freedom he has been entrusted with throughout his career and the unusual liquids this liberty has unlocked. Finally, a 2002vintage first-fill American oak bourbon barrel, offering a combination of smokiness, sweetness and spiciness, signifies his involvement in the reintroduction of The Week of Peat at the distillery after a fifty-year hiatus.
Each set is accompanied by The Balvenie DCS Compendium book, written by former Balvenie Global Ambassador Dr. Samuel J. Simmons. The book, signed by David, features rare archive imagery from The Balvenie distillery, along with information on each of the five DCS Compendium chapters, which documents the thought process taken by David in curating the compendium.