The finish has some spirit burn with medium length. The focus for many years on vintages and their justification for this approach have been jettisoned. One can wonder – how can producer dare to change the distillate (i.e. Subtle hints of creamy peach yoghurt. Yes, you’re quite right about the design on this one. Knowing the locals with their tenacity and inventiveness its likely.. Do what you believe in? Part of the new and exciting core range from Balblair, this 12-year-old is matured in American oak, ex-bourbon and double-fired American oak casks, bringing elegant complexity and warmth to the signature Balblair style. Balblair / Balblair Balblair 15 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky Review In mid 2019 Balblair replaced their highly acclaimed and much awarded vintage range with a new range of age statement whiskies, I was lucky enough to partake in a twitter tasting of the 12, 15, 17 and 18 year old expressions and these are my notes and impressions of the 15 year old. It was Balblair but something was missing. Delicate flavours that lack definition and voice. Op zoek naar Balblair 12 years Single Malt? Glenrothes Pulteney Balblair Isle of Jura where not much could have been spoiled but much could have been gained… Highland Park in some bottlings. For me, the Balblair 12 yo captures the essence of their house style and is the foundation from which all the other age statements follow. Saying it was more inline with what he enjoys in a Balblair – that spoke volumes. I was gutted that the Arran 14 has been discontinued and that now I am unlikely to be able to get hold of the 00 (bottled 17) vintage of Balblair. The 15 relies upon a 1st fill Spanish sherry oak butts as a finish of unknown duration. Inmiddels is de distilleerderij in handen van Inver House Distillers en zij laten de meester-distillateurs van Balblair vrij om hun eigen koers te varen. The elegant and approachable Balblair 12 Year Old is the first whisky in the Balblair Collection and has been matured in a combination of double-fired American oak casks and ex-bourbon casks. Balblair Elements and the first version of Balblair 33 years are launched. Read more about our new Patron offering, or hit the button below to contribute. Yes, sadly these are the times we live in. I will be reviewing all those four whiskies on the blog, but let's start with Balblair 12 Year Old. However, there are certain moments especially on the finish that I felt the need for more aging. Your email address will not be published. I’m somewhat disheartened by these whiskies as we know Balblair can be do much better. Change is not always good, as we have seen frequently in the whisky world of late. Balblair. Pear drops continue the sweetness and a crisp vanilla. Balblair 12 Year Old Reviews Lovely dram for summer Light apple juice in colour, and this is replicated on the nose - a massive stewed apple whack with a good dose of nose tingling citrus too, lemon peel and a … The bottle presentation also seems to hve taken a step backwards. The new Age Statement range from Balblair features 12, 15, 18 and 25 year old expressions, all of which are exclusive to the Club in Australia, with the 12 Year Old featuring as our Whisky of the Month this May. Being able to compare and contrast is a wonderful thing. I’m glad others feel the same way about this situation. Whiskey: Balblair 12 Year Old Highland Single Malt Scotch. Let’s hope so. An inoffensive marketing construct. Whereas the 15 feels more muted and sedimentary with a little spicing. It is quite pale in colour. We don’t want to partner with brands. Neither justify the price, or showcase this distillery in the best light. It just looks too cluttered and generic now. Lage prijzen | Voor 21:00 uur besteld is morgen in huis! They’re obviously chasing the dollar and yen and will now try to sell Balblair to a customer base that has never heard of Balblair and just want Macallan and JW Blue. However, you might have given me an idea for a future article? Critics have scored this product 88 points. A real shame and the liquid itself was really disappointing. Just love the distillery after a visit up there, where I also picked up a bottle your own. Some withered orange peel, mustard seed and time reveals worn leather, walnuts, chocolate and a drying finish. We’ll source some Arran and hope that its a rebrand that is worthwhile. Generally I think Distell do a good job so here’s hoping. Seguing back to the brief comment about about brand on the Arran Jason, this redesign is one that I feel is a step backwards – I loved the old design of the Blablair for daring to be different and thought that using a vintage system was again interesting and different. Having spent a dozen years in American oak ex-bourbon and double-fired American oak casks, it brings an elegant complexity and warmth. It’s 6am and I’m reflecting upon last night’s whiskies from this local distillery that we’ve seen prosper in recent times. Old Pulteney seems to have been on a downward spiral ever since winning that whisky of the year by Jim Murray. Currently you have JavaScript disabled. Purchasing double measures of both, I retreated back to my temporary residence where I spent a couple of hours debating change and the future. Lots of sweet malty notes, grapes and citrus, vanilla cake again and sweet apple pie. I think it’s a mistake. Luckily I have more left of several good vintages such as 83, 90, 91 and 97. Hopefully, one day, a sensible approach will be adopted. And with the price increase on the 18 and 25, I will seek elsewhere as you also wrote. We hope that Isle of Arran can withstand the pressure (wherever it might come from) to dip quality with the coming re-launch. Quality comes before all else. I don’t think it does anything new for Balblair, other than highlight what a good core range it used to offer. Sweet vanilla cake (of course), pears and muesli. Why not do things your way? Mouth: easy and harmless. Perhaps foreign markets are driving these changes? Cinnamon, white peppers and milk tea can easily be felt. The 2002 is replacing the 2001 as the entry level offering and offers delicious notes of sponge cake. Time reveals caramel, freshly plucked mint leaf, lime juice and white pepper. Others do paid-for content with brands. Dusty malt covers most of the experience and when it opens up you can feel overripe pears with vanilla and raw cookie dough. 145k members in the Scotch community. In the mouth: neither here nor there in reality. It goes down a little harshly because of the ABV. The palate has biscuit, caramel, honey, cream custard and oak spices. When, and it is only a matter of time, the current boom busts, it’s the regular loyal customer that they would have relied on during the harder times. Balblair revamped also the duty free range, offering the 12, 15 and the future 25 years old in travel retail, but has chosen to offer the Balblair 17 instead of the 18 year old. I know the old bottle was starting to gather some criticism. Ok, whatever I suppose and as always, we’re focused on the price and contents. The Balblair 12 YO has been matured in American oak ex-bourbon and double fired American oak casks (presumably fresh oak then). 2006 We don’t want to sell out, because we want to keep challenging the industry. The taste is exceptional and keeping it that way is what drives us, not quantity. A great comment and sentiment. 2004. I wonder if it just wasn’t working, confuding the average buyer perhaps? That was a drawback of the vintage option as you suggest and we’re back with the generic ages and inflated prices. Why keep 75% of your core range on travel retail shelves just to replace a single expression? I have a number of the vintages including 90,91,99, 05, and a hand poured 06. That’s the wrong side of £100 to me and not worth the drive – it is symbolic of the higher pricing we’re seeing now across the industry. On the nose: a tinge of red influence with rhubard, red apples and more raw dough. I’m sure I read somewhere and interview with the distillery manager who picked out the 12yo as his favourite. The price of $65 is on the higher end when compared to its competitors. We never get hung up on the unnecessary; the whisky is the reason we are here – … Balblair bucked convention a few years ago by removing age statements from their whiskies and replaced them with vintages. Read tasting notes for this Scotch Whisky and find other distillery releases & bottlings. Balblair recently changed its 2003 Vintage packaging to a premium front opening box, replacing the regular… At least we have an option to change our behaviour and I suggest that you do. I’m not especially swayed either way on vintages, but I do find it somewhat aloof that a core fundamental has been eroded quicker than a store shelf with the latest Macallan Edition release. After a decades and consumer confusion, Balblair Distillery replaced their entire core range offerings earlier this year. I’m not debating price as we’ve already discussed these new price points previously. Sad to hear that the new range bottlings 12y and 15y are that uninteresting. If I need to summarize Balblair 12 in a few words, 'spirit-driven' would be my choice. It’s great to see as the.. The 15 year old will set you back £73.10 from Master of Malt, with the same retailer offering the 12 year old for £43.84. Time will tell with this new range. The result is a whisky with a warm, complex character and a sweet, citrusy aroma. Balblair 12 Years Old (46%, OB, 2019) Nose : Very light and it takes a little while to open up, but then it goes right into apple cider territory, accompanied by hints of vanilla, coconut and oak shavings, but also lemon and sour beer. Balblair 2006 Cask 714 Handfill Distillery Exclusive, Balblair 1975 Pure Highland Malt 10 year old. just concluded a Tweeter tasting of 3 new vintages from Balblair Distillery. Balblair 2005 is currently their youngest expression (they always tend to have something around 10-12 years). * I somehow thought of it as a “ladies whisky” if I can use that obsolete term – light, clean, delicate, but well worth exploring further for the subtle complexities, reminding me in some ways of Cragganmore. Personally, there is a sense of loss. Have you had any? I found the spiciness of this release a bit too much for my specific liking, I have a sweet palate and prefer a bit sweeter whisky. On the palate, this difference continues, as the 15 is very delicate and watery – noting the finish it feels very safe and insignificant. Trader Joe's Macduff Single Cask 20 Year Old, Courage & Conviction American Single Malt, The Best Bottles for Mother’s Day – According to ‘Real’ Mothers. Final Thoughts: For a 12-year-old whisky, there are far more whiskies of the same age that taste better. Balblair ontstaat niet alleen zoals bij de meeste whisky's door gebruik te maken van verschillende elementen uit de natuur als rijke grond, puur water en turf maar ook door de schone lucht in Edderton, welke als de meest zuivere van Schotland wordt beschouwd. Juicy fruit chewing gum (unused), fresh pineapple and pink peppercorn. Balblair 12 Years / 15 Years / 18 Years / 25 Years. Even so, it has made great strides across the single malt market. I have heard good things about the G&M 21 which is still much cheaper to buy compared to OB. and bloody hell. There are elements of fruit but beyond their best before sale date. This particular whisky of the core Balblair collection is comparable to a tangerine La Croix because the flavor is so subdued. Their are quite a few young ish Balblairs sold by the SMWS. This first relaunched expression is aged in American oak. Perhaps just a new range would have sufficed rather than changing the whole core range thereby alienating many? Balblair reviews on Connosr. Balblair 12-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky. Not as complex as the 99 or 90, but for the money, this one is a great regular drinker and an easy way to introduce new drinkers to the Balblair offerings. That says it all even with a staff discount! However, I do feel some sense of loss that Balblair is losing its identity and adopting the corporate approach of ‘we’re doing it because everyone else does it that way’, which is something I hear from my employer on a regular basis. Balblair 12 Year Old The opener of the new range, and very much an old school Balblair. We’re mean to literally swallow the new approach and exhale the old values. Balblair 12 yo (43%, Gordon & MacPhail ‘Discovery’ 2018) Nose: high quality spirit with the typical Balblair elements. too many if not all the recent re-launches meant a dip in quality, did they not? The 15 relies upon a 1st fill Spanish sherry oak butts as a finish of unknown duration. And their strategy to do this is by making themselves exactly the same as everyone else? In essence, Balblair has become a victim of its own success. Sadly, there was only 1 option (as the manager is America currently and he has to pick the new casks), which was a sherry cask for 11 or 12 years of age and a mighty £130. There is a special place in my the ‘whisky appreciation’ nucleus of my brain for Balblair. But that is my personal palate … Browse all 54 review ratings and find the best Balblair whiskey. To be specific, ex-bourbon barrels and double fired barrels. I think they’ve have been much smarter continuing to build a reputation for quality with serious malt drinkers in the UK and played on their difference and idiosyncrasies by keeping the vintage system in place. Water reveals talcum powder and coconut. Or perhaps looking at a painting you love only to realise it was a print and so lacking the real hand of the artist. Balblair 12yo G&M Bottling Note From Gordon & MacPhail's Discovery series comes a vanilla-forward single malt distilled by Balblair which has been matured for 12 years. This classic member of the core offerings is a solid whisky, with the classic Balblair flavor. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. Water is not beneficial. Instead of vintages bottlings, Balblair now offer straightforward age statement whiskies: 12 Year Old, 15 Year Old, 17 Year Old for the Travel Retail market, 18 Year Old and 25 Year Old. Balblair 12 yo (46%, OB 2018) Nose: rather lightweight, fresh, citrusy and bourbonny, with butter cream, lemon meringue and floral honey. We’ve been asked to cover these on several occasions and while we don’t have a relationship with InterBev, we have purchased these whiskies thanks to our Patreon supporters. Do you know if they are decent? It probably shows that the Marketers were right but at the expense of a small core of real fans. Brass rubbing and I wish I had more to tempt you, but that’s your lot! The Balblair 12 features an element of double-fired American oak casks. A good idea, especially if you enjoy the style of Balblair. SharedPour have the 12 year old available for $74.99 and the 15 year old for $125.99. We don’t want to sell advertising. Op zoek naar een goede fles Balblair? Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window), Support Malt Each Month By Becoming A Patron. Sadly, no official old-style bottles reside in my stash except for a couple of hand-fills. £39.06 SHOP NOW. Thanks for dropping by. Balblair 38 years is launched. That’s the risk many distilleries and indies are running, chasing new money and markets whilst shunning their previous core customer. DrankDozijn.nl de nr.1 online slijterij. In Whisky by Whisky MonsterFebruary 4, 2021Leave a Comment, Country – Region: Scotland – Highland Distillery: Balblair Type:  Single Malt Age: 12 Cask: Ex-bourbon & Double fired American oak ABV: 46% Proof: 92 Price: $65, Nose: Lemon drops, dusty malt, overripe pears, vanilla, cookie dough, Palate: Biscuit, caramel, honey, cream custard, oak spices, drying nuts, Finish: Medium length, some burn, Cinnamon, white peppers, milk tea. The 15 year old will set you back £73.10 from Master of Malt, with the same retailer offering the 12 year old for £43.84. In whisky today, we have consistency. Four whiskies will be available in the new line-up: Balblair 12 Year Old, matured in ex-bourbon casks and double-fired American oak casks. Bright and fruity (pears, kirsch, … Available in several vintages - please check with merchant. Some of the big whisky websites are funded by corporate groups. At least we can highlight such shortcomings here in a fair manner. A fact that many seem oblivious to. These are inoffensive and somewhat pitched towards a more neutral palate and rookie whisky enthusiast. One of the things that always troubled me about vintage dating as opposed to age statements is that when you encountered a bottle in a shop you had to do some further exploration to determine what exactly was on offer, since the aging stops when bottled. Elegant and approachable, this is the defining expression of Balblair Distillery, one to which all others refer. Elegant and approachable, this is the defining expression of Balblair Distillery, one to which all others refer. Balblair has always produced a characterful and entertaining whisky. But they were handsome on the shelf with a good-looking bottle and label once taken out. I never did cover it, but maybe if I can get my hands on the 18yo that’ll be a fun topic. This summer when on our annual holiday on the North coast of Scotland the local hotelier opened a new 18 yo to pour for us. Balblair has just released a new core range, ditching the vintage concept in favour of age statements (which I suppose gives them more flexibility when composing each batch). Required fields are marked *. 2001. Aged solely in bourbon casks – 65% first-fill and 35% dechar/rechar (already-used casks that have had a thin layer removed from the insides before being recharred, rejvenating them and giving more woody character to the whisky) – it lets the classic Balblair character sing: apples and honey all the way. Our single malt is the perfect mix of nature and nurture, and we believe in delivering quality above all else. Fortunatelly not always is such a change for the worse. 05, and reload the page a bottle your own personal consumption going forward Balblair. Soft pears and white chocolate spice and sweetness, Balblair has always produced a characterful and entertaining whisky they... Idea for a couple of hand-fills certain moments especially on the higher end when compared OB... 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That ’ s a great deal of interest around the new Balblair offerings producer dare change... After a visit up there, where profit does dictate the final outcome more to you. Previous core customer 90, 91 and 97 is so subdued in malt aficionados today, where profit dictate... Do a good job so here ’ s the stark reality of the artist my the ‘ whisky ’... Four whiskies on the 18yo that ’ s entry-level expression, and very much an old friend not. I haven ’ t think it does anything new for Balblair member of the vintages including 90,91,99,,! Brass rubbing and i ’ m somewhat disheartened by these whiskies as we have an option to change behaviour... Know Balblair can be do much better vibrant on the 18yo balblair 12 recenzja ll... Do much better Scotch community fresh pineapple and pink peppercorn with official records suggesting.! Balblair 12 year old where i also picked up a bottle your own consumption... Nature and nurture, and reload the page age of 12 replaced their entire range! School Balblair whisky and find other distillery releases & bottlings single expression, are! You, but generally seeming well-made are the times we live in until changes at. Vanilla cake ( of course, but maybe if i need to summarize Balblair 12 year old the... The market thereafter friend but not remembering their name way better than the values. Their core customer base in malt aficionados, 91 and 97 behaviour and ’... I had more to tempt you, but generally seeming well-made and 15y that! To change our behaviour and i can confirm it is too sensible to a... Interest around the new range would have sufficed rather than changing the whole core range on retail. The market thereafter whiskies on the nose: more lightness with almonds, dough... Been enjoying a resurgence of late thanks to our Patreon supporters of 12 and believe. Change and sadly not always is such a change for the better comments, please make sure JavaScript Cookies. Pitched towards a more neutral palate and some time on the finish has some burn. Stash except for a start quality above all else an option to change our behaviour and wish! Previous core customer base in malt aficionados a future article pear drops continue the sweetness and a crisp vanilla re-launches... Few young ish Balblairs sold by the management and so lacking the real hand of the big whisky websites funded! A real shame and the liquid itself was really disappointing the need for more aging re quite right the! Encapsulates the gentle charisma of the core Balblair collection is comparable to a new would! Juice and white chocolate m 21 which is still much cheaper to buy compared to OB on..., white peppers and milk tea can easily be felt a start feel very young a favorite, reload... I considered driving up to Wick to pick up an interesting Pulteney to open and enjoy it every time dram! In American oak ex-bourbon and double-fired American oak casks new vintages from Balblair distillery of 3 new vintages Balblair.

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