David Stewart, The Balvenie Malt Master, has released a new limited edition from The Balvenie Distillery, a 17-year-old single malt finished in Madeira casks.

Matured in traditional oak and finished in casks previously used to make fortified Madeira wine, The Balvenie Madeira Cask 17 Year Old is a real treat for the Scotch whisky enthusiast; an exceptionally rich and rewarding mature single malt whose deep, luxurious aromas translate into an equally rewarding flavour of spice and dried fruit. 

Understanding the traditions of whisky making like few others, The Balvenie Malt Master of over 30 years, David Stewart, retains a passion for experimentation; each year using different cask types and mature spirit to create a new expression of The Balvenie’s uniquely honeyed character for limited release.

Describing The Balvenie Madeira Cask 17 Year Old, David says, “Each bottling is its own alchemy of spirit, wood and time, but knowing how well port and Oloroso sherry cask maturation complements The Balvenie’s honeyed sweetness we were sure that a Madeira cask would produce interesting results. The 17 year old whisky extracted some wonderful rich spice and distinct raisin flavours from the Madeira cask, which we hope malt enthusiasts will enjoy discovering in the glass.”

The Balvenie Madeira Cask is the latest in a series of six 17 Year Old limited edition releases by The Balvenie Distillery and offers a spicy counterpoint to the rich sweetness of 2008’s release, the award-winning The Balvenie RumCask. Available for a limited period at a recommended price of £69.99 a bottle, at an ABV of 43%, The Balvenie Madeira Cask 17 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky will be available in UK and limited markets worldwide from September 2009.