The Balvenie Distillery is built on the stories that are told from each generation of craftsmen to the next. They’re its lifeblood. It is how they pass on what they know, how they process experiences, and how they create new ideas. The Balvenie Stories range is a collection of single malt whiskies representing tales of character, endeavour and craft. Each whisky produced by The Balvenie tells a human story, evolving with the protagonists and developing unexpected twists through years of maturation. The latest addition to The Balvenie Stories range is The Tale of the Dog; a 42 Year Old whisky of extremely limited quantity.

Inspired by one of The Balvenie’s longest serving characters, The Tale of the Dog is recalled by Dennis McBain as one of his clearest memories of working at the distillery, from over 50 years ago. It celebrates the story of McBain as a young apprentice being exposed to a new world of distillery life, as a brewer asked for a copper dog – a little copper tube once used for siphoning off whisky straight from the cask – to be flattened and put back for its owner to find. The humbling tale taught McBain what a dog was, why the expression ‘taking a dog for a walk’ was used at the distillery, and that whoever it belonged to had been sent a message, but ultimately given a second chance. McBain’s memory then inspired his suggestion of using dogs instead of unwieldy valinches for distillery tour tastings. And so, every dog used in Warehouse 24 tours is there because of Dennis McBain and his early days at The Balvenie

We’ve got craftspeople who have worked here for many many years and they have great stories, it makes for very memorable moments when we tell them.

GEMMA PATERSON, THE BALVENIE GLOBAL AMBASSADOR

With only 180 bottles produced, The Tale of the Dog is highly sought after. As we want everyone to have a chance to purchase, we will be running a special ballot on this release. Please submit your details via the contact form below to enter the ballot for a chance to purchase this incredible bottle from The Balvenie. Ballot closes on 5th December 2021, with the winner contacted during the week commencing 6th December 2021.




    Enter this ballot and be in with chance to win the opportunity to buy a single bottle of The Balvenie, The Tale of The Dog priced at £9000. Open to residents of the UK excluding NI only. Entrants must be over the age of 18. Ballot closes at 23.59 on 5/12/21. Bottle available in the UK ballot: 1 x 70cl bottle of The Balvenie, The Tale of The Dog. Purchase is necessary to claim bottle. Winner will be contacted via the details provided in the ballot. Full terms and conditions available here.

    Browse other release from The Balvenie Stories range below.