Product description
We all remember the story of Margaret Douglas and the red rose given annually to James II as payment for the lease of the castle.
Margaret was married to William, 8th Earl of Douglas, who was beheaded for rebellion against the crown. The Douglass’ estates and titles were consequently forfeited to the crown but the king was taken with Margaret’s beauty and reinstated her in Balvenie Castle for the annual rent of a single red rose. The initial edition of Balvenie Rose limited to 426 bottles was released in 2008 and was available only at the distillery (it was a 16-year-old whiskey finished in port cask). The second installment, also finished in port casks, had two releases (2009), and occasionally appear at auctions. When it seemed that the scent of the roses was just a memory, in 2021 David Stewart created "The Second Red Rose", this time it is a 21-year-old Balvenie single malt finished in Australian Shiraz barrels.
Nose: fruity, raspberries, blackberries, apricots, mango, vanilla, honey, pralines, allspice, black pepper, hints of forest floor and toasted oak.
Palate: slightly oily, honey, vanilla, ripe blackberries, cherries and raspberries, peaches, black pepper, candied ginger and delicate oaky dryness.
Finish: medium long, with notes of ripe berries, honey, vanilla, dash of mixed spice and oak tannins.