🥃 The Balvenie DoubleWood 17 Year Old
A 17-year-old Speyside single malt from The Balvenie: bourbon casks with a sherry finish; 43% ABV; launched 1 November 2012.
The Balvenie DoubleWood 17 Year Old is the older sibling of DoubleWood 12 in The Balvenie's Speyside single malt range. According to Difford's Guide it was launched on 1 November 2012, at 43% ABV. Whiskypedia lists it among the brand's core range; check separately whether it is currently available.
The whisky matures in American oak casks that previously held bourbon, then finishes in European oak casks that held sherry. Difford's Guide does not give the length of the finish. The principle is the same as in the younger expression, but the greater age lets the wood show more clearly. The distillery belongs to William Grant & Sons.
Why this matters to you. Compare it with The Balvenie DoubleWood 12 by age and strength: the 12-year-old may be 40%, while the 17-year-old is 43% according to the source. The age on the label refers to the youngest whisky in the bottle. The WHO reminds us that no level of alcohol consumption is safe.
Facts
| Year founded | range launched 1 November 2012; Balvenie distillery founded 1892/1893 |
|---|---|
| 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-sherry |
| Minimum maturation | 17 years |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 43% |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 The Balvenie DoubleWood 17 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
- 🥃 The Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year Old, 🥃 The Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year Old, 🥃 The Balvenie PortWood 21 Year Old, 🥃 The Balvenie PortWood 21 Year Old
Frequently asked questions
Is DoubleWood 17 just a longer version of DoubleWood 12?
The principle is the same: bourbon casks and a sherry finish. But the 17-year age and 43% ABV make the taste different.
When did DoubleWood 17 appear?
According to Difford's Guide, on 1 November 2012, as the next expression after the 12-year-old.
How long is the whisky finished in sherry casks?
Difford's Guide does not disclose this period; no specific months are given.
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.
- 🥃 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 PortWood 21 Year Old — A 21-year-old Speyside single malt from The Balvenie, finished in former port wine casks; created in 1996; 40-43% ABV.
Similar
🥃 The Balvenie Caribbean Cask 14 Year Old · 🥃 The Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year Old · 🥃 The Balvenie PortWood 21 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 17 Year Old Doublewood (43 %; launched 1 Nov 2012; American oak ex-bourbon, then European oak sherry)
- Scotchwhisky.com (Whiskypedia): Balvenie (Double Wood 1993; core range: Double Wood 17, Caribbean Cask 14, Port Wood 21)
- Difford's Guide: Balvenie Distillery (William Grant & Sons; list of expressions)
- 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