The Balvenie 12 DoubleWood
Dufftown, Speyside, Scotland
Twelve years in traditional whisky casks, then roughly nine months in ex-Oloroso sherry casks and a few months in a tun. Reviewers and retailers report it is chill filtered and has added colour. Unpeated.
- Age statement
- 12 years
- Aging
- 12 years in American oak ex-bourbon barrels and hogsheads, then about 9 months in Spanish oak ex-Oloroso sherry casks
- Congeners
- High
- Histamines
- Moderate
- Polyphenols
- Moderate
- Sulfites
- Low
- Tannins
- Moderate
- Sugar
- Very Low
- Additives
- Moderate
In its favor
- ✓Unpeated, so no phenol load
- ✓Sherry stage is short compared with fully sherry-matured malts
What to watch
- !Sherry casks contribute some sulfites
- !Added colouring and chill filtration reported by reviewers
Factor by factor
Congeners High ▾
Byproducts of fermentation (methanol, acetaldehyde, fusel alcohols). Strongly linked to hangover severity; darker, less-distilled spirits carry more.
Histamines Moderate ▾
Produced by bacteria during fermentation/aging. Trigger flushing, headaches, congestion in sensitive drinkers. High in red wine, beer, aged spirits.
Polyphenols Moderate ▾
Plant compounds with antioxidant activity. Slightly protective at low doses but at high concentrations may worsen hangover via tannin/quercetin reactions.
Sulfites Low ▾
Preservatives (SO₂) added to wine and some beers. Common trigger of headaches, asthma, and allergic-type reactions.
Tannins Moderate ▾
Astringent polyphenols from skins, seeds, barrels. Bind proteins, slow alcohol clearance, and aggravate dehydration-style symptoms.
Sugar Very Low ▾
Residual sugar amplifies hangover via blood-sugar swings and dehydration. Liqueurs and cocktails are the main offenders.
Additives Moderate ▾
Colorants, flavorings, glycerin, propylene glycol, sorbates. Cheap spirits and ready-to-drinks often hide these in trade-secret formulas.
DoubleWood is a bourbon-cask malt with a sherry finish rather than a sherry-matured one. The sherry stage is about nine months, so its sulfite and tannin contribution lands well below Macallan 12 Sherry Oak and in line with Glenlivet 12.
The Balvenie 12 DoubleWood questions
Is The Balvenie 12 DoubleWood gluten-free? ▾
Not by label. The Balvenie 12 DoubleWood is distilled from a gluten-containing grain, so US rules bar it from claiming gluten-free. Distillation does remove the gluten protein, and the Celiac Disease Foundation considers distilled spirits safe for most coeliacs. If you would rather avoid the question, pick a spirit distilled from corn, potato, grape or agave.
What proof is The Balvenie 12 DoubleWood? ▾
The Balvenie 12 DoubleWood is 80 proof, which is 40% alcohol by volume.
Does The Balvenie 12 DoubleWood give you a bad hangover? ▾
The Balvenie 12 DoubleWood scores 6/10 on the SpiritFacts Hangover Index, against 7/10 for scotch overall. The main drivers are its congeners.
Is The Balvenie 12 DoubleWood vegan? ▾
Yes. The Balvenie 12 DoubleWood is listed as vegan, with no animal-derived ingredients or fining agents.