Balvenie 12 Year Old First Fill Single Barrel #5869 Balvenie was built by William Grant in 1892 and remains part of his family's company to this day. In the early part of its history, its purpose was primarily for the provision of malt for Grant's blends, however following the global success of Glenfiddich, the Balvenie single malt brand was launched in 1973. It remained a rarity though, and it was not until the opening of Kininvie in 1990, and later Ailsa Bay in Girvan, that the distillery was given the freedom to focus on its single malt. Today it is one of the best recognised brands in the world. In 1993 they launched the 12 year old "DoubleWood," an expression credited with pioneering the use of cask-finishing, and this has become a key motif for the distillery's output in recent times. The 12 year old Single Barrel is part of what the distillery now calls its Connoisseur Range, and is elevated slightly above their core portfolio in prestige. Launched in 2014, this was joined the following year by the 15 year old Sherry Cask and 25 year old Traditional oak single barrel the following year. One of 300 bottled from single cask #5869 Bottle nbr. 160