Balvenie Stories: The Edge of Burnhead Wood with Ross Blainey, Kelsey McKechnie and David Stewart.

Balvenie Stories: The Edge of Burnhead Wood with Ross Blainey, Kelsey McKechnie and David Stewart.
From AUD $109.00
  • Duration: 90 Minutes (approx.)
  • Product code: PFKKY0

Set yourself up at home on Friday the 18th of September, as Whisky & Alement is excited to welcome Ross Blainey of The Balvenie to the virtual stage to announce the official launch of the 4th installment of The Balvenie Stories: "The Edge of Burnhead Wood."

The Balvenie Stories is a range of whiskies that were created to document tales of true character. Built upon stories, these tales are the life-blood of The Balvenie. Passed down from each generation of craftsmen to the next.

Taste the entire story so far including the lauded 26 year old "A Day of Dark Barley," and sit back and relax, because these drams are set to have quite the supporting act! Join The Balvenie Distillery team over in Scotland as you are taken on an exclusive tour of the Distillery and Dufftown estate. You will see the evenings proceedings lift the curtain on production and distillery life, but most importantly, you will see and meet the very people that conceptualised and created the whisky in your glass, as you find yourself in the company of Balvenie royalty.


Special guests:

  • David C Stewart MBE – Malt Master
  • Kelsey McKechnie – Apprentice Malt Master
  • Gemma Paterson – Global Ambassador
  • Charlie Metcalf – Distillery Ambassador
  • James Roberts – Distillery Ambassador

“The Edge of Burnhead Wood” is the first ever expression of The Balvenie that is 100% produced from The Balvenie estate. With 100% of the barley grown and malted on site, this is very unique. It is not only unique for that reason, but it is also lightly smoked with heather, Scottish native plant which you will almost definitely have never seen before. This new Balvenie expression was only made in one single batch so once this one is gone, it's gone.


Flavour profile of The Balvenie:

Classic Balvenie is lingering, rich and flavour dense. Notes of orchard fruits, honey-coated almonds, cinnamon and buttery brioche carry throughout the range, however, each expression we will be tasting at this event is completely unique. 


What's included in the pack?

A tasting mat so you can keep track of your drams!

And the story so far...

  • 30ml x The Balvenie Stories "A Sweet Toast of American Oak"
The Sweet Toast of American Oak - 12 Years Old, 43%

This expression is the story of newly appointed Apprentice Malt Master Kelsey McKechnie experimenting with twice-toasted white American oak from Kelvin Cooperage in Louisville, Kentucky.

  • 30ml x The Balvenie Stories "The Week of Peat"
The Week of Peat - 14 Years Old, 48.3%

An evolution of The Balvenie Peat Week, this whisky tells the tale of when Malt Master David Stewart MBE and former distillery manager Ian Millar used a week-long gap in the distillery’s production schedule to experiment with peat.

  • 30ml x The Balvenie Stories "A Day of Dark Barley" RRP: $1,100+ (700ml)
A Day of Dark Barley - 26 Years Old,  47.8%

A mammoth release, this expression tells the story of Malt Master David Stewart MBE and The Balvenie’s malt men experimenting with a heavily roasted dark barley in 1992. 

  • 30ml x The Balvenie Stories "The Edge of Burnhead Wood"
The Edge of Burnhead Wood - 19 Years Old, 48.7%

This is the story of what would fondly come to be known as The Heather Trials, and how the people behind them helped create the first-ever expression of The Balvenie made entirely with ingredients grown on its Dufftown estate.

  • 1x Whisky & Alement house made cocktail of your choice featuring Balvenie Sweet Toast of American Oak. 

Choose between A Storied Pear / kumquat, Cocchi Americano, Strange Love pear soda served tall or, A Toast to Banana / House made banana and orange amaro, Amontillado sherry served short.



What time should I sign-on, and how do I join the event online?

You will receive a link via email with more information 1 day prior to the event. For any queries, please contact Miranda at events@whiskyandale.com.au

7:00 - 8:15: Tasting and tour

8:15 - 8:45: Community catch-up, and questions


After the tasting:

The entire Balvenie Stories range will be available to purchase after the tasting via our online shop, please be advised bottles may be delayed in arriving due to Coronavirus mail delays.


Pickup & Postage:

  • Express Post of Balvenie tasting packs - $9 per pack
  • Due to stage 4 restrictions, pickup is currently unavailable


“Stories are the lifeblood of The Balvenie distillery. They make up the fabric of who we are and what we do. Each expression in the collection reflects this by telling its own story via first-hand accounts and recollections of the many people involved.”


"This collection of whiskies documents tales of true character which are then crafted into inspiring single malts. Our Distillery is built upon stories that are told from each generation of craftsmen to the next. These stories are our lifeblood. It is how we pass on what we know, how we process experiences, and how we create new ideas."

- The Balvenie Malt Master David Stewart MBE