The Balvenie A Rare Discovery From Distant Shores 27 Year Old Scotch Whisky
The Balvenie A Rare Discovery From Distant Shores 27 Year Old Scotch Whisky is a 48% ABV (96 proof) Speyside single malt from The Balvenie's Stories range — distilled in the mid-1990s, matured 20 years in traditional American oak hogsheads, then transferred in 2014 to casks that formerly held 10-year-old rum from Trinidad's legendary, long-closed Caroni distillery for a further seven years. Inspired by the friendship between Balvenie Malt Master David C. Stewart and rum connoisseur John Barrett, it's an ultra-limited release — just 400 nine-liter cases — marrying Speyside elegance with Caroni's muscular tropical sweetness. Muscovado sugar, manuka honey, treacle toffee and aged leather. Available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 48% (96 proof)
- Size: 750mL
- Age: 27 years — 20 in American oak hogsheads, 7+ in ex-Caroni rum casks
- Range: The Balvenie Stories — limited to 400 nine-liter cases
- Origin: The Balvenie Distillery, Dufftown, Speyside, Scotland (est. 1892)
Seven Years in Caroni Wood
Most rum finishes last months; this one lasted seven years — long enough to be a genuine second maturation. The Caroni casks, from a distillery closed since 2002, are increasingly scarce, making this bottling essentially unrepeatable. The result drinks like a dessert course: velvet vanilla, overripe banana, crème brûlée, charred oak and rum-soaked dried fruit, with a mouth-coating, lingering sweetness. Explore The Balvenie collection or browse rare scotch whiskies.
Tasting Notes
Nose: rich and indulgent — muscovado sugar, manuka honey, green banana, light spice. Palate: velvet vanilla viscosity, treacle toffee, aged leather, deep oak tannin. Finish: lingering, sweet, wonderfully oily.
How to Enjoy
Neat, in a proper nosing glass — a pour that demands attention. Pairs beautifully with dark chocolate, fruitcake or a fine cigar.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Caroni? A legendary Trinidadian rum distillery, closed in 2002; its casks are prized and increasingly rare among whisky makers.
How long was it in rum casks? Over seven years — far beyond a typical finish.
Is it limited? Yes — only 400 nine-liter cases were released.
A collector's Balvenie of the highest order — order Distant Shores 27 online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.