Balblair 2008 Equinox & Solstice Summer Edition 15 yo

 

 

 

48,5°

Distillery : Balblair - Highlands

2 Firsr Fill Bourbon Barrels 

Independent Bottling 

By Decadent Drinks 

Limited Editon 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated 

 

 

 

The principle behind the Equinox & Solstice range is to release 4 bottlings a year, each time on the day of the equinox or solstice. The whisky is always reduced to 48.5°, and is not a Single Cask. Each one is supposed to illustrate the season in which it is bottled, and it will be a simple whisky, not too expensive, to be enjoyed with friends, in the great outdoors. That's the concept, anyway. If you're drinking it alone in the office, I don't think anybody will hold it against you. So this Balblair was released on the day of the summer solstice, the season it is supposed to represent, thanks to its ageing in Bourbon casks. The label is a gradation of colours designed by Isle of Skye-based artist Ellis O'Connor.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The nose is bursting with fruit, mainly orchard fruit, green apples, Comices pears, juicy peaches, nectarines and apricots, but also some exotic fruits, fresh pineapple, passion fruit and kiwi. The whole is sprinkled with lemon and ginger, and seasoned with an elegant woodiness, whole almonds and cherry stones. The palate is more conventional, with vanilla, citrus fruits, hints of pastry and icing sugar, and a few spices, cloves and nutmeg. Long, comfortable finish, humus and chestnuts, return of fruits, cereal notes.

 

In Short, 

A nice whisky indeed. But the nose is really astonishing with all these fruits. It's a good piece of work, the juice is very pleasant. As for the price, it's a bit high, but yes, you can buy it.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Ocean Alley - Confidence

Balblair 1991 3d Release

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Balblair - Highlands

Ex-Bourbon Barrels and 1st Fill Oloroso Sherry Butts Finish

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2018

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

There was a time when all Balblair bottlings were vintage. It's not that long ago. Some were young, some old, some very old, like this one, which certainly totals 26 years, bottled on 13 February 2018. It spent 24 years in Bourbon casks, before a two-year finish in Oloroso Sherry Butts. It is not known how many bottles were produced.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Intense, slightly charcoaled, coppery wood, powerful, slightly fermented, even candied fruits, morello cherries, berries of all kinds, blackberries and blackcurrants, raisins and dried apricots, banana. It's foresty, yet subtle, with undergrowth, humus and dark chocolate, cinnamon. On the palate, the fruits are more candied, peaches, mandarins, nectarines, quinces, crushed walnuts, hazelnuts. Intense spices. Rather violent finish despite the fairly low alcohol content, punchy but not aggressive, syrupy, fruit jellies, black tea, Christmas pudding. 

In Short, 

Nothing like the current expressions of Balblair, this one has much more character. It's fruity, but also coppery and spicy, with pudding at the end. It's really very good. And for this age, the release price was truly pleasant. That was 5 years ago. A lifetime ago. You can still find it today, but it's almost twice as expensive, so it's not really worth it any more.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Melody Gardot - So We Meet Again My Heartache

Balblair 12 yo

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Balblair - Highlands

Ex-Bourbon and Double-Fired American Oak Casks 

Original Bottling 

Core Range 

Single Malt 

Launched in 2019

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

In 2019, the distillery, which until then has only produced vintage editions, is launching a regular range. This 12-year-old has undergone an original maturation process, partly in American Bourbon casks toasted twice.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Quite a fruity bourbon profile. Vanilla, pear, plums, but also some exotic fruits, pineapple, papaya, passion fruit. Light but constant lemon. On the palate, it's the same scenario, fruits jostling each other with a citrus zest in the background. Some cereals, malted barley, wheat, puffed rice. Dried fruits, raisins, apricots. Barely noticeable spices, nutmeg and turmeric. Melting caramel on the finish, charcoal, earthy, chocolatey. Relatively long. This makes a decent whole.

In Short, 

It's good, but it's still a bit light, and lacks complexity for my taste. There's nothing really original about it. It's not a remarkable whisky.

Score : 83

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping:

  

                                                     Elton John - Your Song

Balblair 15 yo

 

 

 

46° 

Distillery : Balblair - Highlands

Ex-Bourbon Casks and 1st Fill Spanish Oak Butts

Original Bottling 

Core Range 

Single Malt 

Launched in 2019

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured 

Totally Unpeated

In 2019, the distillery, which until now had only produced vintage bottlings, is launching a regular range. This 15-year-old has undergone exactly the same maturation as the 18-year-old.

Let's Taste It : 

It's immediately rich in fruits, quite greasy and sweet. Vanilla and white fruits, perhaps finished in bourbon barrels? Pear, apple, but also banana, guava and mango. A pinch of various citrus fruits, mandarin and orange. On the palate, the same music, a festival of very ripe fruits. Coated with honey. Spices go unnoticed. Good finish, quite long, woody and caramelised. A touch of dark chocolate and orange, almost earthy. Cocoa beans, mocha, chicory.  

In Short, 

Really nice and pleasant. I really liked it. It's a little less subtle than the 18-year-old, but more straightforward, and more chocolaty at the end. It's a pity, I think the price is really exaggerated.

Score : 85

                                          To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                           Tom Jones - Delilah

Balblair 18 yo

 

 

 

46° 

Distillery : Balblair - Highlands

Ex-Bourbon Casks and 1st Fill Spanish Oak Butts

Original Bottling 

Core Range 

Single Malt 

Launched in 2019

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

In 2019, the distillery, which until then had only produced vintage editions, is launching a regular range, of which this 18-year-old is the pinnacle.

Let's Taste It : 

Intense vanilla, toffee, white fruits, plums, Italian grapes, with a dash of banana, cereals and liquid honey. Very rich. On the palate, exotic fruits, mango, citrus, mirabelles, grapefruit, papaya, passion fruit. A lemon zest. Ginger and turmeric. An ounce of charcoal and wood to flesh it all out. Varnish. Very long finish, on cola, nuts, peanuts and a few discreet spices. Nutmeg, cloves. Macadamia nuts, cocoa powder. Rich and deep earth. Heather.

Bref, 

It's really nice, with a great variety of fruits. However, it fails to reach the level of excellence usually expected from an 18-year-old.

Note : 86

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                                    The Divine Comedy - A Lady of a Certain Age