Balvenie Cask 191 information

[Vange]

I recently stumbled across a Balvenie Cask 191. The price was astronomical!! I read a little bit about this smsw and heard it was 1 of 83 worldwide. Does this qualify as the most expensive bottle of smsw in the world? What should this bottle go for?

(I wont say what I saw it for just yet so I can see what the market is for it)

Thanks,
Evangelos

[kallaskander]

Hi there,

it seems the Balvenie Cask 191 is the Balvenie equivalent to the Glenfiddich 1937.

http://www.sovereign-publications.com/glenfiddich.htm

Balvenie gives some tasting impressions.

http://www.thebalvenie.com/shop/cask191.html

And here is talk about a Cask 151

http://www.beveragedaily.com/news/ng.as ... ited-taste

but that could just be a misnomer or a confused journalist. Anyway, the malt is from the 1950s and seems to try to reach for Macallan prices for malts of this age.

Greetings
kallaskander

[kallaskander]

Hi there,

"22 November 2002


THE BALVENIE CASK 191 AGED 50 YEARS
A MIRACULOUS EXPRESSION OF THE BALVENIE


The Balvenie Distillery has added a new whisky to its range of extraordinary single malt Scotch whiskies. The result of some 50 years of maturation, The Balvenie Cask 191 has miraculously escaped the many dangers a whisky this good can face!

Containing the last Balvenie Single Malt Scotch Whisky from the 1950s, Cask 191 was laid down to mature in a single sherry cask on 26 January 1952 at The Balvenie Distillery, in the heart of the Scottish Highlands. A whisky of exceptional taste, this Balvenie will only be enjoyed by a few lucky consumers. On 6 September 2002 the cask was emptied and just 83 bottles of the precious liquid were forthcoming, making The Balvenie Cask 191 the smallest Balvenie release ever.

It is not rare for a cask this old to have lost more than half of its original contents. Even under the constant care of four Warehouse Keepers since 1952, The Balvenie Cask 191 could not remain completely undisturbed. As whisky ages in the cask, it evaporates through the wood, becoming what is affectionately known as the ‘angel’s share’. In this case, the angel’s share amounted to an amazing 77%! In other words, it is estimated that Balvenie drinkers were robbed of 173 bottles . But as the coopers at The Balvenie Distillery say, you can’t deny the angels their share!

James Doherty, Marketing Manager for The Balvenie at William Grant & Sons, commented: “The Balvenie Cask 191 Single Malt Scotch Whisky is by

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far the most collectible expression of The Balvenie. It is a shame that so few consumers will be able to share it with us.”

The first expression of The Balvenie to be released having matured solely in a single sherry cask, The Balvenie Cask 191 developed a sherried character underpinned by the honey notes so typical of The Balvenie. For the delight of whisky connoisseurs, it was drawn straight from the cask, and was neither chill-filtered or coloured.

David Stewart, The Balvenie Malt Master, wrote these notes to remember The Balvenie Cask 191 Aged 50 Years:

‘The Balvenie Cask 191 Single Malt Scotch Whisky has a complex nose, intense with toffee, marzipan, sweet oak, raisins and nuts. The depth of flavour is astonishing, developing from butterscotch to clover, honey, liquorice and chocolate – elegantly balanced with drying oak and spice.’

To shield this rare single malt from further intrusions of the celestial kind, each bottle is individually dipped in wax. A special label, hand-signed by David Stewart, is then carefully applied on each bottle, which is housed in a specially crafted cherry wood box hewn from solid blocks of wood. The box and accompanying certificate are numbered and also hand-signed by David Stewart.

A 70cl bottle of The Balvenie Cask 191 Aged 50 Years (45.1% ABV) retails at £6,000 in the UK. Also stocked in France, the US and selected travel markets, The Balvenie Cask 191 has limited availability world-wide.

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Notes to editors:
In addition to the loss of liquid due to evaporation, the alcohol strength in the cask dropped naturally from 63.5% to 45.1%. This means that the 83 bottles available were all filled with cask strength whisky, without the addition of water, prior to bottling.

For further information, please contact:
PR Department
William Grant & Sons
Tel: +44 (0) 208 334 1253
Email: pr@wgrant.com"


Greetings
kallaskander