# Pineau-Infused Scotch Whiskeys The Balvenie Releases New 'French Oak 16-Year-Old' Expression By Niko Pajkovic | Published 2022-07-28 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/french-oak-16yearold References: [bevnet](https://www.bevnet.com/spirits/2022/the-balvenie-launches-french-oak-16-year-old) & [us.thebalvenie](https://us.thebalvenie.com/our-whisky-collection/cask-finishes/french-oak/)  Scotch whiskey brand The Balvenie has added a new ultra-premium expression to its Cask Finishes Range called 'The Balvenie French Oak 16-Year-Old.' What makes the new single malt whiskey particularly unique is that it has been aged in casks that formerly held Pineau harvested from the French Charentes vineyards According to the company, The Balvenie French Oak 16-Year-Old was inspired by Lorne Cousin's journey through France's winemaking regions, during which he discovered Pineau, a unique fortified wine made from unfermented grapes that can be added to Cognacs. “Pineau des Charentes vibrant and distinct flavors, extracted from our signature double maturation process, not only bring greater depth to our range but deliver an element of luxury and craft that is unmistakably The Balvenie," explained Malt Master David C. Stewart MBE. Image Credit: The Balvenie ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.0/10 - Popularity: 33% | Activity: 45% | Freshness: 12% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Drinking](https://www.trendhunter.com/drinking) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Pineau-infused Scotch Whiskeys:** The infusion of unique fortified wines such as Pineau into traditional single malt Scotch whiskeys creates a unique flavor profile and level of luxury for consumers - **Cask Finishing:** The use of unique cask finishes, such as Pineau casks, allows for greater experimentation and innovation in the whiskey industry - **Exploration of New Flavor Profiles:** The use of Pineau and other unique fortified wines in the aging process of traditional single malt Scotch whiskeys provides the opportunity for the exploration and creation of new and intriguing flavor profiles ### Who This Affects Most - **Liquor and Spirits:** The liquor and spirits industry can embrace the trend of cask finishing and exploration of new flavor profiles to create unique and premium products for consumers - **Wine and Fortified Wine:** The wine and fortified wine industry can seek new opportunities to partner with whiskey brands to supply unique casks for cask finishing - **Tourism and Hospitality:** The tourism and hospitality industry can capitalize on the growing interest in unique and premium spirits by offering tours, tastings, and experiences for consumers to learn about the process and appreciate the flavors ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Flavourful Luxe Scotch Whiskies](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-balvenie2.md) - [Wine-Inspired Limited-Edition Scotch Whiskies](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/scotch-whisky.md) - [Luxuriously Matured Malt Scotches](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/grand-chteau.md) - [World Whisky Day Celebrations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/world-whisky-days.md) - [Exquisite Single-Malt Whiskies](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/singlemalt-whisky.md) - [Wine Barrel-Aged Whiskeys](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tomatin.md) - [Exquisite Single-Malt Scotch Pairings](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/scotch-pairings.md) - [Craftsmanship-Focused Rare Whiskies](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/rare-marriages.md) - [Wine Cask-Aged Spirits](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pursuit-of-passion-wine-cask-collection.md)