The Balvenie·A Collection of Curious CasksFrench Pineau Cask Finish

An 18-year-old Speyside single malt from The Balvenie, distilled in 2005 and bottled from a single cask. As a single cask release, it represents the character of one individual barrel rather than a vatting of many casks.

The label indicates a French Pineau cask finish, which suggests time spent in a cask that previously held Pineau des Charentes, a fortified French wine. For a new drinker, that often points to extra layers of fruit sweetness and oak added to Balvenie’s approachable malt style.