🥃 The Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year Old
A 12-year-old Speyside single malt: first matured in bourbon barrels, then finished for about nine months in sherry casks; 40-43% ABV.
The Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year Old is the core single malt from The Balvenie distillery in Dufftown, Speyside. The name refers to two types of wood: the whisky matures for twelve years and is then moved into another cask for finishing. Sources give the strength differently: 40% ABV according to Difford's Guide and 43% on the official website.
The whisky first matures in American oak casks that previously held bourbon. It is then moved into European oak casks that once held oloroso sherry and rests there for about nine months. Difford's Guide calls it the first single malt finished in a second cask. The distillery belongs to William Grant & Sons, and the expression was launched in 1993.
Why this matters to you. This is the simplest entry point into The Balvenie range: the sherry finish is soft and does not overwhelm the distillery's style. Older expressions such as PortWood 21 use different casks. Check the age and strength on the label of the bottle you have. The WHO reminds us that no level of alcohol consumption is safe.
Facts
| Year founded | range launched 1993; Balvenie distillery founded 1892/1893, Dufftown |
|---|---|
| Legal basis | Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/2890) (Single Malt Scotch Whisky) |
| EU category | 2 - whisky (whisky/whiskey) |
| Raw material | malted barley |
| Cask type | American oak ex-bourbon, then European oak ex-oloroso sherry |
| Minimum maturation | 12 years; finish about 9 months |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 40% (Difford's Guide) or 43% (official website) |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 The Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year Old → packed in → 🍷 Oak barrel ← packed in ← 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Packed in
- 🍷 Oak barrel, 🍷 Sherry
- Made from
- 🥃 Barley and malt in whisky
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health
- Part of
- 🥃 The Balvenie, 🥃 Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 🥃 Speyside whisky
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Glenfiddich 12 Year Old, 🥃 The Balvenie Caribbean Cask 14 Year Old, 🥃 The Balvenie Caribbean Cask 14 Year Old, 🥃 The Balvenie DoubleWood 17 Year Old, 🥃 The Balvenie DoubleWood 17 Year Old
Frequently asked questions
Is it true that DoubleWood 12 was the first whisky with a second cask?
Difford's Guide says so, calling it the first single malt finished in a second wood. The launch is dated to 1993.
What does the name DoubleWood mean?
Two types of wood: American oak from bourbon barrels for the main maturation, and European oak from sherry casks for the finish.
What is the strength of DoubleWood 12?
Sources differ: 40% ABV according to Difford's Guide and 43% on the official website. Check the label on your bottle.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Oak barrel — A wooden barrel of oak staves in which wine matures and breathes.
- 🥃 Barley and malt in whisky — Malted barley is the base of whisky: malt enzymes convert starch in the mash, and EU whisky is distilled below 94.8% vol.
- 🥃 Glenfiddich 12 Year Old — Flagship 12-year-old single malt Scotch from Glenfiddich in Dufftown; 40% ABV; the age statement returned to the label in 2000.
- 🥃 The Balvenie Caribbean Cask 14 Year Old — A 14-year-old Speyside single malt from The Balvenie, finished in casks that once held rum; 43% ABV.
Similar
🥃 The Balvenie PortWood 21 Year Old · 🥃 The Balvenie DoubleWood 17 Year Old · 🥃 The Balvenie Caribbean Cask 14 Year Old · 🥃 Mortlach 16 Distiller's Dram · 🥃 Mortlach 20 Cowie's Blue Seal · 🥃 BenRiach The Original Ten
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- The Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/2890), reg. 3: definition and categories of Scotch Whisky (Scotland, oak up to 700 l, min. 3 years, min. 40 % ABV)
- Difford's Guide: The Balvenie 12 Year Old Doublewood (40 %; American oak ex-bourbon, then ~9 months European oak oloroso sherry casks)
- The Balvenie (official US shop): DoubleWood 12 (43 %, 86 proof; American oak, then about nine months in European oak sherry casks)
- Scotchwhisky.com (Whiskypedia): Balvenie (Double Wood 1993; core range: Double Wood 17, Caribbean Cask 14, Port Wood 21)
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)
Also listed under
- SpiritsWhiskyScotch WhiskySpeyside whisky
- SpiritsWhiskyScotch WhiskyThe Balvenie
- SpiritsWhiskyThe Balvenie