The Balvenie The Sweet Toast Of American Oak 12 Year Old Scotch Whisky
The Balvenie The Sweet Toast Of American Oak 12 Year Old Scotch Whisky is a 750mL Dufftown single malt bottled at 43% ABV (86 proof), the first release — Story No. 01 — of The Balvenie Stories range. Balvenie that had first aged in ex-bourbon barrels was finished in virgin American oak barrels imported from Kentucky and deep-toasted at The Balvenie Cooperage, for a fruitier, sweeter Balvenie. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor.
- ABV: 43% (86 proof)
- Size: 750mL
- Age: 12 Year Old (ex-bourbon maturation, then a virgin-oak finish — not 12 years in virgin oak)
- Casks: Ex-bourbon barrels, finished in deep-toasted virgin Kentucky oak from Kelvin Cooperage (producer-reported)
- Series: The Balvenie Stories, Story No. 01 (launched May 2019)
- Creator: Kelsey McKechnie, Apprentice Malt Master at launch
- Origin: Dufftown, Speyside, Scotland
Story No. 01: A Sweeter Balvenie from Kentucky Oak
The idea was Kelsey McKechnie's: to make a fruitier, sweeter Balvenie, virgin oak barrels were imported from Kentucky — launch coverage reporting the producer names Kelvin Cooperage of Louisville as their source — and deep-toasted at The Balvenie Cooperage before being filled with ex-bourbon-aged Balvenie, with then-Malt Master David C. Stewart supporting the project. See the house on the The Balvenie vendor page, or browse our Scotch whisky collection.
Tasting Notes
Per the brand's published notes: candied fruit, coconut and delicate vanilla lead; a lusciously malty nose with sweet fudge, citrus and oak vanilla, layered with ginger and cinnamon spice; candied orange and lemon peel, vanilla toffee and butterscotch on the palate, with blossom honey and melted brown sugar; a rich, malty finish of oak vanilla and subtle spice.
How to Enjoy
Pour it neat and let the toasted-oak sweetness build; a side-by-side with DoubleWood 12 shows exactly what virgin oak adds. More Stories releases are in our Scotch whisky collection.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Sweet Toast of American Oak?
Story No. 01 of The Balvenie Stories — the range's first release, launched in May 2019, built to be a fruitier, sweeter Balvenie through a toasted virgin-oak finish.
Was it aged 12 years in virgin oak?
No — the 12-year-old whisky first aged in ex-bourbon barrels and was then finished in the deep-toasted virgin Kentucky oak. The brand states no finish duration, and none is claimed here.
Who created it?
Kelsey McKechnie, whose title at launch was Apprentice Malt Master — she has since become The Balvenie's Malt Master.
Kentucky oak, toasted in Dufftown — order Balvenie Sweet Toast of American Oak online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.