Balblair 10 Year Old Bottled 1990s Gordon & Macphail

Balblair 1997

Today’s entry is a mini of Balblair 1997 (bottled 2013), in the old bottling style with the embossed vine on the glass. The colour is a light gold. On the nose the dominant note is lemon meringue pie with a hint of peat (?), some herbs (parsley, sage) and overripe pear. Heather honey. Floral, a bit more so with water. Not demanding or challenging...

Score 93/100

Balblair Rare Auld Balblair 1991 19 Year Old

This is a single cask (#1614), cask strength Balblair distilled in 1991 and bottled in 2011 (bottle 149 of 207). It's also very good. Nose: creamy lime, vanilla, honey, ripe fruit. The nose is pungently citric thanks to the high ABV. Palate: creamy mouth feel. Sweet honey, then citrus-lime. There is a sweet and sour grapple of citrus and honey,...

Score 90/100

Balblair 12 Year Old 2006 Hand Bottling

It’s hard to resist the exclusive distillery bottlings where you are actually visiting the distillery. Trust me, been there more than my wallet cares to remember. But this one was filled by my Dutch buddy Marcel and he was so gracious as to send me a sample. This Balblair matured for 12 years. It’s a single cask at cask strength, something you do...

Score 83/100

Balblair 12 Year Old Discovery Gordon & Macphail

A few years ago Gordon & Macphail introduced the Discovery series in which they bottle affordable malts at drinking strength. This 12 years old Balblair matured on a bourbon cask. My buddy Pat sent me a sample. Lovely spring fresh nose on apples and pineapple. Green grass and a mild minerality (oh, I do love my alliterations). Citrus and...

Score 80/100