Inspired by the Fair Maid of Galloway, Margaret Douglas, the story of The Second Red Rose began centuries ago in the Balvenie Castle on Speyside Hill. After the death of her husband, the 8th Earl of Douglas, the castle and its estate shifted ownership to King James II, however, Margaret continued to live there. She paid rent to the King in the form of a single red rose each year, with the flower becoming a symbol of both intense beauty and extreme value.
The aforementioned intensity is now bottled in the form of a 21-year-old sweet and fruity single malt. Commenting on the release of The Second Red Rose, malt master David C. Stewart MBE said: “It has been a real pleasure to bring back such a wonderful story in The Second Red Rose, and to do it with the new finish using Shiraz casks. The original Balvenie Rose was a distillery exclusive, so it’s great to have the opportunity to share the story with more people.”
Inspired by an iconic bottling of The Balvenie first released in 2008, The Second Red Rose pays homage to The Balvenie Rose, a 16-year-old whisky, finished in port pipes that was only available to visitors to the distillery.
Storytelling is carried through every aspect of The Second Red Rose, with its story told on the whisky’s packaging. Printed with a bespoke illustration by British artist and printmaker Andy Lovell.
The latest expression will join The Balvenie’s Stories range first launched in May 2019, featuring The Edge of Burnhead Wood, The Sweet Toast of American Oak, A Week of Peat and The Tale of the Dog (launching November 2021). The recorded stories and guided whisky tasting content is also available in podcast format, bringing to life the story behind each expression, through a series of conversations between The Balvenie’s craftsmen and The Balvenie global ambassador Gemma Paterson.
The Second Red Rose will launch in September 2021 and will be available in select whisky retailers including Selfridges and Whisky Shop, RRSP £305.