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The Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Years is a single malt whiskey aged for 12 years that gains its distinctive character from having matured in two types of wood. During the aging period it is transferred from a traditional whiskey cask to a first year European sherry cask. Each stage lends different qualities to this single malt. Traditional casks soften and add character while sherry wood adds depth and fullness of flavour.
The Balvenie distillery is located in Dufftown, Scotland. They still grow their own barley the same way they did in the old days although as the 21st century progresses they use a combine harvester for when the crop is ripe enough to be harvested. The Balvenie is the only distillery to maintain and operate on a malting floor in the Scottish Highlands.
After soaking the grain in spring water from the distillery's hills, the grains are spread across the malting floor. In the distillery there is a copper craftsman who helps during the process of the stills, which thanks to their shape and size affect the flavor of the whisky. The barrels are also a very important element for the flavor of the future distillate, which is why they are cared for by the best team of coopers at the distillery. It is the Master of The Balvenie, David Steward, who makes sure that each whiskey is the best combination of wood, distillate and time.