This year, Ballantine’s Hard Fired collaborated with New York artist David Sena to create a work paying tribute to the mastery of fire at the heart of the Scotch whisky production process.
Known for “painting” with fire, David Sena builds his works around unusual techniques using fireworks and other pyrotechnic materials, revealing unique motifs.
In the same way, Ballantine’s Hard Fired overturns the codes of Scotch Whisky by using the ‘Hard Firing’ technique. The expert coopers, whose craft and know-how have been handed down from father to son for generations, burn each cask required to age Ballantine’s Hard Fired twice, revealing a whole new palette of aromas combining roundness and smoky notes. As each barrel is different and each flame unique, the coopers observe the evolution of the flames inside the barrel with the naked eye. This is how they determine whether they have reached their optimum burn level.
David Sena found parallels between the Ballantine’s Hard Fired manufacturing process and his own artistic mastery of fire.
The result is his impressive “Mastery of Fire” installation, which stages the 4 stages of cask burning via a succession of panels, playing with perspective to reveal the bottle of Ballantine’s Hard Fired.
The first stage illustrated by David is the raw wood of the cask, represented by staining the support with the smoke released by a flaming wick.
Next comes the fire, for which David has developed a new method of saturating the paper with colored smoke.
Then comes smoke and charcoal, the final stage in cask burning.
David Sena’s life-size work inspired this gift box for Ballantine’s Hard Fired, sold in a limited edition for the end of the year.
In this wooden case, the bottle takes pride of place, adorned with a reproduction of 4 works by David Sena to illustrate the 4 crucial stages in barrel burning.
Ballantine’s Hard Fired, a true innovation at the heart of tradition, is the result of a unique manufacturing process for a Blended Scotch Whisky: double cask burning.
Ballantine’s Hard Fired is a 40% vol. Blended Scotch Whisky, with an atypical taste that combines roundness and power on the palate, in a perfect balance characteristic of the House of Ballantine’s.
Discover Ballantine’s Hard Fired with a lightly burnt orange wedge to reveal the sweet, subtly smoky notes of this Scotch Whisky.
YEAR-END LIMITED EDITION
Water. The source of every great whisky. Its purity, essential to the inimitable balance of whiskies, inspired us to create two year-end limited editions for Ballantine’s 12 Years and Ballantine’s Finest.
Water. From spring to still, it’s the purity of water that makes Ballantine’s whiskies so special. From the peat lands of Islay to the pine forests of Speyside, every spring in our distilleries produces water of the purest quality, making possible the inimitable Ballantine’s blends.
This art of blending, carried out by Sandy Hyslop, the House’s 5th Master Blender since its foundation, gives Ballantine’s whiskies their unique balance. A balance that, like a wink to this element, is revealed by a single drop of water.
BALLANTINE’S 12 YEARS LIMITED EDITION
The whiskies that make up Ballantine’s 12 Years Old need at least 12 years of ageing to allow their honey and vanilla aromas to express themselves, bringing a touch of mellowness and complexity to the whisky. The traditional Bourbon casks in which Ballantine’s matures give it a delicate golden hue.
Tasting suggestion: enjoy in a tasting glass, neat or with mineral water to release its aromas.
Tasting notes :
Robe: Delicate golden hues.
Nose: Sweet honey, oak and vanilla
Palate: Balanced, smooth, complex and floral, with hints of oak and honey.
Finish: Fresh with a hint of salt
BALLANTINE’S FINEST YEAR-END LIMITED EDITION
An emblematic reference in the Ballantine’s range, Ballantine’s Finest was first blended in 1910 from carefully selected whiskies. Ballantine’s Finest is a complex, refined and elegant blend that you can fully appreciate as an aperitif. 
Tasting suggestion: enjoy in a tasting glass, neat or with mineral water to release its aromas.
Tasting Notes:
Robe: Pale gold.
Nose: Deep with spicy notes.
Palate: Well-balanced with notes of chocolate, apple and vanilla.
Finish: Sophisticated final notes add a fresh, floral touch.
C
offret limited edition Ballantine’s Hard Fired
On sale exclusively on
www.barpremium.com
Selling price 120 euros
Ballantine’s Hard Fired
70cl bottle on sale in supermarkets for 19.50€.
Ballantine’s 12 Years and Finest limited editions
On sale in supermarkets at a guide price of €22.50 and €14.50 respectively.
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