Balvenie Founders Reserve Old Version 10 years old Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky 100 cl 43%

Before DoubleWood took over the shelf, this was the bottle people pointed at when someone asked for Balvenie. The broad cognac shaped bottle, the green label and a distillery that had not yet become a name everyone knew.

The expert's description

Balvenie Founder's Reserve 10 years Old Version is a Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky matured in bourbon casks and sherry casks and bottled at 43 % in litre format.

Founder's Reserve was the Balvenie core bottling through the 1980s and 1990s, named after William Grant, who founded the distillery in 1892. It was phased out in the early 2000s when DoubleWood 12 took over as the entry bottle of the house, and it has not been in production since.

This is the older version in the distinctive broad bottle that looks more like a cognac bottle than a whisky bottle. The label calls the whisky a Highland Malt, which was common practice at the time, when Speyside was often treated as part of the Highland region rather than as a designation of its own.

Tasting notes

Nose

Honey, pale cereal and peeled apple. A soft sherry note sits behind it along with a hint of almond.

Palate

Round and malty with honeyed sweetness, vanilla and a lightly nutty middle. The sherry is discreet and pulls mainly towards raisin.

Finish

Medium, soft and dry at the end with malt and a touch of oak.

Specifications

Name: Balvenie Founder's Reserve 10 år Old Version
Distillery: Balvenie
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 43 %
Size: 100 CL
Cask type: Bourbon casks and sherry casks
Edition: Old Version in cognac shaped bottle

Flavour profile

Honeyed · Malty · Soft · Nutty · Lightly sherried

Investment potential

Medium. The bottling is discontinued and exists only in the quantities made at the time, and the litre format left the market along with intra-EU duty free. Discontinued Balvenie bottles in original condition are sought after by collectors.

Did you know?

William Grant built Balvenie in 1892 by reusing materials from the disused Balvenie New House, and the distillery still stands in the shadow of the 13th century ruins of Balvenie Castle.

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Frequently asked questions about Balvenie Founder's Reserve 10 years

Why is Founder's Reserve no longer in production?

It was phased out in the early 2000s when DoubleWood 12 took over as the entry bottling of the house. Balvenie concentrated the range around its age stated expressions, and Founder's Reserve was never brought back.

Why does the label say Highland and not Speyside?

Because Speyside was for many years counted as part of the Highland region. Several distilleries in the area used Highland as their label designation right into the 1990s, and that is the practice you see here.

What is a cognac bottle in this context?

It is the broad, low bottle shape Balvenie used for its older bottlings, closer to a cognac bottle than to the slim bottle the distillery uses today. The shape is one of the clearest markers of an older edition.

Is it different from DoubleWood?

Yes. It is lighter, maltier and carries markedly less sherry influence, since it has no dedicated finish. In return it shows a side of Balvenie that is no longer in the range.

How do I know whether the bottle has been kept well?

Look at the level in the neck and at the cork. If the level sits clearly below the shoulder, the bottle has probably stood warm. If the label is whole and the cork intact, there is usually no cause for concern.

Is it for a collector or for someone who just wants to taste?

Both can be defended. The collector gets a discontinued bottling in a format no longer made. If you simply want to taste, you get a ten year old malt from Speyside from a time when the range looked entirely different.