Kininvie 23 year old Batch # 1
Kininvie was the “secret distillery” at the William Grant & Sons campus in Dufftown that is home to Glenfiddich and The Balvenie. It existed as a separate stillhouse near the Balvenie’s stillhouse, but shared mash tuns and washbacks with the Balvenie. The stills were also used to produce the Hazelwood-labeled single malts, most notably those honouring the late Janet Sheed Roberts, the last surviving granddaughter of William Grant.
The Kininvie stills ran only as needed to supply malt whisky for blending purposes, and there was officially never any intent to bottle Kininvie as a single malt — until now.
it’s the core ingredient of Monkey Shoulder
Nose: An elegant nose but also a slightly spirity one. Even at relatively low strength it’s rather neutral. Kirsch or other types of fruit spirit. A lot of vanilla and almonds. Newish oak. A hint of apple, as well as apple blossom. Floral honey.
Palate: Very sweet, plenty of apples and honey again. Citrus. Damsons. Maybe hints of strawberries. Sugared cereals. Some pepper and a general oaky note towards the end.
Finish: Medium long, with apple and hints of chocolate.
I really like The Balvenie and this Kininvie 1990 has a similar character
Batch #1 is so sort after, it’s already a collectors item – see here
