The Balvenie 26yo "A Day of Dark Barley" is an extraordinary single malt whisky from The Balvenie distillery, part of their notable Stories collection. This distinguished whisky, bottled in 2019, is the third release in the Stories series, known for celebrating the character, endeavor, and craftsmanship of The Balvenie's distillery team. Distilled in 1992, this malt was created using an unusual batch of dark, brittle barley as an experiment by the esteemed Malt Master David C. Stewart. Having matured gracefully for over a quarter of a century in a first-fill bourbon cask, this whisky boasts a profound and complex flavor profile. The maturation process has imparted deep oaky nuances, complemented by inviting malty aromas of soft brown sugar, vanilla, blossom honey, and a touch of gentle oak spice. On the palate, it presents a harmonious blend of sweet toffee and tangy orange, evolving into delightful notes of vanilla, toasted oak, and spicy ginger. The finish is long and lingering, leaving a lasting impression of honey, oak, and spice. Bottled at a robust 47.8% ABV, this expression is notably richer and heavier than typical Balvenie whiskies. The unique use of over-roasted malted barley and the extended maturation period have created a whisky that is both complex and deeply rewarding. This 2019 release not only showcases the distillery’s commitment to quality but also tells the intriguing story behind its creation—originating from an erroneous delivery of dark barley that later inspired the 14-year-old Roasted Malt release in the mid-2000s. This exceptional cask was allowed to mature further, achieving its remarkable 26-year-old profile.
This whisky features a unique dark barley used during distillation and has matured for 26 years in a first-fill bourbon cask, offering deep, complex flavors.
Expect notes of sweet toffee, tangy orange, vanilla, toasted oak, and spicy ginger, with a rich and lingering finish of honey, oak, and spice.
The ABV (alcohol by volume) of this whisky is 47.8%, providing a bold and robust drinking experience.
This whisky is part of The Balvenie's Stories collection, which highlights the character and craftsmanship of the distillery team through unique and narrative-driven releases.
As a whisky connoisseur, I find The Balvenie 26yo "A Day of Dark Barley" to be a masterful representation of the distillery's innovative spirit and dedication to quality. The unique use of dark barley and the extended aging process in a first-fill bourbon cask create a rich, complex whisky that captivates the senses with each sip. The harmonious balance of sweet, spicy, and oaky notes makes this a standout addition to any collection.
Spirit Radar is my daily tool that become crucial for my busines. As an independent bottler I follow my bottles (The Colours of Rum) on various e-commerce sites. On the other hand, a spirits' collector I use Spirit Radar to chase bottles I want to buy or sell. I also use "my collection" tool to value my own bottles. Spirit Radar become really useful and I can see the team works systematically to improve the app. I will surely remain loyal user.
CEO Wealth Solutions SA
We have used Spirit Radar since the very beginning. Both in our business and for private use. It is a fantastic tool to keep you updated in the market. It can be very time consuming to find an exact bottle somewhere in the world, but with Spirit Radar, you can get that information within seconds. We have also used it when we need to keep track of our bottles and see what our customers wants. Besides that, its an interesting platform, when you want to explore the rum world, or search for bottles that could be really hard to find in the normal stores. It is very easy and intuitive to use.
Mastertaster at Romdeluxe
Ardbeg Traigh Bhan Batch No.1 Small Batch Release 19yo 46.2% 700ml
Macallan Edition No.1 Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky 48% 750ml
LM&V 2019 Hampden Great House 59% 700ml
Velier Caroni 1998 Dennis X Gopaul Employees 1st Release 20yo 69.5% 700mlSpirit Radar gathers as much information and data as possible about each bottle. We have collected historical offers and auctions for each bottle, sometimes dating back to 2012.
We constantly check every site for new and updated offers. When a bottle becomes in stock, we know it within minutes.
We use all this data to compute the market value of each bottle. As a result, you can see the price trend of each bottle and find the best place to buy it.
In addition, we constantly expand our database: we add new bottles, online stores, and auction portals. Find new releases and rare bottles for the best prices.
Spirit Radar allows you to add bottles to your watch list. When we find a bottle from your watch list in stock, we will send you a notification. You can also set a maximum price you are willing to pay, and we will ignore all more expensive offers.
We check every site multiple times a day, the hottest bottles even every few minutes. You will be one of the first to know when a bottle becomes available to buy.
When we find an auction of a bottle you watch, we will notify you before it ends. You can disable all auction-related notifications or disable them for individual bottles.
Do you know the current value of your collection? And how has it grown during the last 30 days? Spirit Radar makes it simple. Just add bottles to your collection and enter purchase prices.
Every day, you'll get an updated value of your collection and how much you gained since you purchased the bottles. These statistics are provided for your entire collection, as well as for individual bottles.
Security is our top priority. Only you can see your collection and statistics.
