Balblair 18 Year

I have to speak the truth here. I have completely forgotten Balblair from my whisky adventures. I don't often give it the attention it might deserve, and i have had this idea that this distillery was on a second or a third level, behind the blockbuster ones. Boy, was i mistaken. Well, i was in a restaurant in Tain, Scotland and i found this wild 18yo bottle sitting in the shelf. I asked for a glass and my mind was blown. Bottled at 46%abv. On the nose, greasy and good. Oranges, Bbq sauce, greasy honey and a Pork chop. After a first sip it released an aroma of stewed apples. It smells a little like a fish market. Crazy, interesting. On the palate, it was fantastic. Smoke, hay, very "cowboy" like. Tobacco. After a first sip, it gave me stewed apples, honey; But there is this hay smoke amazingly aromatic. Aftertaste is very nice. Ginger, smokey aromatic. Honey, bonfire and Bbq sauce. Super neat stuff. Overall, this was a pleasant surprise. It has crazy flavors and aromas that are not mainstream; it offers something new, enjoyable and interesting. This is what i look for in a new whisky: new emotions. Very well delivered, my score for it is 94 over 100.

An initial alcoholic puncture welcomes the nose, but in a short time the smell becomes very fruity, with cooked pear, raisins, pineapple, ripe figs, lemon note and nutmeg. Frosted cereals (like Kellog's Frosties) in the background. Harmonious and layered sweetness. In the mouth it becomes warmer and spicier, like a pear and cinnamon cream cake, flakes of milk chocolate, hazelnuts, candied orange, a pinch of star anise. It has a slight roughness of the background, of leather and wood, in an interesting game of contrasts. Medium long finish, with hazelnut chocolate, cinnamon, cooked pear. If the contrast in the aromas had been more intense I would have found it more amusing, however it remains a whisky that is anything but boring, complex, and deserves more attention.

Nose: peach, apricot, in short, a nice fresh fruit salad! Palate: very dense and oily, the fruit seems to drown in vanilla and honey, you can feel the influence of the ex bourbon barrels. Slightly bitter finish, short lasting. A product that is certainly not unforgettable. Rating 3.25 ____________________________________________________ Naso: pesca, albicocca, insomma una bella macedonia fresca! Palato: molto denso ed oleoso, la frutta sembra annegare nella vaniglia e nel miele, si sente l’influsso delle botti ex bourbon. Finale leggermente amarognolo, di breve durata. Un prodotto sicuramente non indimenticabile. Voto 3,25

Does not have much of a nose .... do I have cold I don't know about ?? Nice dark color Fairly smooth neat, with smooth after taste Very easy to drink, and on the rocks makes it a good starter whiskey for children ( kidding!!) Very easy to drink ..... but does not excite me about whiskey. Might have to try again

Достаточно мягок. Ножки в бокале прям таки весьма. Маслянистый и тягучий со вкусом ирисок и ванили, полнотелый. Долгое и богатое завершение. Под вдумчивый, особый вечер и с сигарой. 3,5. Цена завышена, на мой взгляд

Yummy but not worth the extra price point compared to the 15. There’s a spice that sticks around. It’s sweet like vanilla and honey, but there’s really not a ton of complexity. I was expecting more.