The Balvenie Tun 1401 Batch 7 confirmed as GTR exclusive

The Balvenie has confirmed that Batch 7 of its Tun 1401 special edition series with be a travel retail exclusive.

Set for a release into global duty free in March, The Balvenie Tun 1401 Batch 7 will be a marriage of aged single malt matured in nine American oak casks and two European sherry butts.

Hand-picked by The Balvenie malt master David Stewart, the whiskies are married together in Tun 1401 for several months before being bottled at 49.2% abv.

Stewart said the Speyside release would be markedly different to Batch 4, the last release to be available exclusively to travel retail.

“I always look forward to selecting the different casks of aged Balvenie whisky for the batches we marry in Tun 1401 and Batch 7 was no exception,” he said. “This new batch is quite different to Batch 4… as it contains more whisky matured in traditional American ex-Bourbon barrels, so it contains more soft vanilla notes.”

Batch 7 is described as having a floral nose with notes of honey and orange peel, and a taste of cinnamon, honey, vanilla and gentle oak with citrus notes on the finish.

The release, first revealed to be a global travel retail exclusive by The Spirits Business in August, will be priced at £175.

Batch 6, a marriage of whisky from the 60s, 70s, 80s and early 90s aged in American oak and sherry casks, was released exclusively in the US in August. Batch 5, which was destined for the UK and European markets, sold out within weeks.