06/11/2025
Balvenie, a name so familiar to anyone who loves Single Malt Scotch Whisky, (especially the simple 12yo DoubleWood) is a very dear name to me too.
Forever sealed with the name David C(harles) Steward for 6 decades, a change of guard now to the beautiful; knowledgeable and skilled Kelsey McKechnie, the current Balvenie Malt Master.
Appointed since 2023 and mentored by David himself, Kelsey began her career in 2014 with a very strong educational background, armed with BSc in biology, a Master's in Brewing & Distilling, and even an MBA.
Very stoked to have been invited by William Grant & Sons (WG&S) to witness the release of the 2nd Edition.
Held at the Bar Somma @ 46 Kim Yam Rd, #04-02A New Bahru for Singapore, a minimal bar with extremely clean lines, this bar is great to have a tipple and definitely a wonderful conversational field.
We were treated to a headphones walk-thru tour with 4 additional Balvenie Expressions before being finally wowed by warmly explained by the Global Balvenie Ambassador - . The 4 additional Balvenie Expressions include: -
The Balvenie 12yo DoubleWood
The Balvenie American Bourbon Barrel 14yo: A Selection of Curious Casks
The Balvenie 21yo PortWood
The Balvenie 25yo
All Balvenie Whisky expressions were paired with intrinsically created canapés from the Somma Restaurant. I am not very good with picture taking, but you will see the amount of skill and effort that the Somma Chefs have placed in making them.
Very very clever indeed. That “Cask Cookie” and the transparent “Pineapple Slice” were just amazing !
I have since been relinked with the Balvenie and forgotten how good Balvenie is, not only the 14yo Curious Cask with a very subtle smoke note to it (I call it elegant peat), but the 21yo Port Cask was very very balanced.
And of course, we had a chance to taste the Balvenie 25yo too, not overly oaked for a whisky that has been in a barrel for more than 25 years.
- 2nd Edition (Old & Precious) will now make its way to Jakarta as well and other prominent Asian Countries. An American Hoggie (That’s Hogshead to ya), Cask #7089.
This is indeed a very precious Balvenie. Priced at about $70,000, I believe that there will be deep pockets takers and collectors as there are only 97 bottles from this aged old barrel.
Thank you &S .world for the invite to this spectacular unveiling of the - 2nd Edition (Old & Precious).
And of course Eric @ that made it “in-solitaire” for me that evening.