Balblair 1990 2nd Release

I have been busy, but not too busy to still continue to explore whisky. There’s just been no time for documentation, and not much inspiration to write about a bottle, until I finished Balblair 1990 2nd release, and decided to reminisce about this beauty. I have come to the conclusion that it is silly, after having had literally hundreds of different whiskies, to continue to give “82/100” to a forgettable, but inoffensive dram. My new rating system will be Michelin inspired. Forgettable whiskies will score a 0 – and most whiskies are forgettable. Unforgettable whiskies will score 1. Unimaginably good whiskies will score 2. Unparalleled transcendent whiskies will score 3. And, to fairly satisfy the 5 star system this app uses, I will compare how much I think a bottle should cost, and how much the bottle actually costs, and give a rating based on that. Balblair 1990 is three stars. I fucking love this whisky. People are upset that Balblair has modernized their range, and is now selling a 25 year old for $500. Balblair has consistently been one of the best distilleries in the past 5-10 years, right up there with the likes of Springbank, but they have always undervalued their own worth, and they are just now charging the fair-market price for their whiskies now. This Balblair 1990 is 24-25 years old, and it was selling for $150! There is actual bourbon influence on the nose. For most scotches, “bourbon influence,” means a light “breakfast” whisky where the malt dominates. This smells like a full-bodied fine bourbon, rich tobacco and cherries, Pappy Van Winkle; but this is balanced with a single malt presence that is secondary, but still significant. On the palate, it goes from bourbon to sherry, and that is the right order of flavors; starting with American oak toffee and vanilla sweetness, progressing to raisins and dark fruits, and finishing with cocoa, leather, and tobacco. A 25 year old Balblair is better than a 25 year old Springbank, or a 25 year old Macallan, or a 25 year Balvenie. They deserve to start charging whatever they want. Score: *** (unparalleled transcendent) How much does a bottle cost: $150-180 (may no longer be available) How much do I think a bottle is worth: $500

-46% abv -Non chill-filtered -Natural color -Aged in ex bourbon for 23 years then finished for 2 in oloroso sherry casks. Nose: rich, Christmas cakey and complex. Notes include: vanilla cream; honey; red apple; fresh strawberry; dark plum; pear; clove; cinnamon; lemon meringue; slight floral; slight pepper; grassy almost herbal note hiding in the background. Taste: medium viscosity but full. It starts out sweet with bright red fruits, dark fruits, and sugary plums and dates along side a hint of root beer/cola. As it develops, a gentle but assertive cinnamon spice and note of pepper kicks in along side rich toffee and dark cherry. Simply fantastic. With water, a tropical clementine orange and kiwi appears. Not. Even. Kidding. Finish: one of the longest I’ve ever experienced. Mouth watering with honey, vanilla, a slight floral note, plum, honeydew melon, iced pastry, maple syrup, golden apple, and just when you think it’s over, you get light salted caramel and a sweet spearmint to close the show. Value: while getting harder to find, you can get a bottle for between $170-200 and I suggest you do so. Final thoughts: an amazing single malt at a great price. This is what I imagine a 30 year old Highland Park might taste like. This 25 year old Balblair should not fly under your radar...so start hunting! Score: 5/5. Go out and buy it now! Malt musing. “Whisky is liquid sunshine.” - George Bernard Shaw

This is one of those hyped legendary bottles I've heard so much about. Finally had a friend send me a sample. I took a few nips...a few too many drinks into a night. So this will be the real test. Nose - Oh we got old sherry oak. Classic dried fruits and figs. Underlying chocolate with a nice fruit chew note. I want to say we've got a touch of a cherry and apple thing going on but very non sweet and not natural flavors. Rich oak for sure. This makes you think about some nice old chest of drawers from your grandparents attic. Taste - classic malt smoothened in decades of oak and sherry. This is so milk balls chocolate dry, clean classic. Spice driven on the finish while hints of milk chocolate and dark fruits all up front. Spicy vanilla in here to. Malt/sweet forward up front, almost too much after the fruity yet drier approach. Wow what a treat, old school well aged sherry. It's a shame these days seem long gone. 4.25 seems fair. Wish it was 48 to give it that final little bump. But wonderful

This is very hard to find now. Mine was bottled in 2016 so 26 years of maturation. Those years seem well spent as it is a fine dram. Since it is older, you should sip at pouring but let it rest a while. The nose is a nice citrus smell, maybe orange and a little earthy to me. On the palate it is sweet and malty and if you just hold it and let it dissolve it will show you all that it has to offer as it changes from sweet malt to a touch of sherry and citrus and finally it ends in peppery oaky spice. The finish is very long and spicy. Not a well known brand, mostly used in blends, but known to Scotch lovers and it does not disappoint. The first over 21 year old Whisky I acquired and well worth it. Once it is gone, there will be no more... Slàinte Mhath!

Always a bit off the beaten track, Balblair was one of few distilleries sticking to vintage bottlings until just recently. Distilled in 1990 and bottled in 2015, the aroma of this Highlander is a true delight. Blood oranges, papaya and delicate spices intermingle with cereals, lemongrass and hints of cocoa. A complex and well-balanced flavor profile marks the palate: fruity-sweet and spicy at first, the taste develops more floral, aromatic and mildly acidic. Chocolaty-bitter, warming and almost sparkling, the prolonged finish waves farewell. A great single malt to savor! RATING: 4.4/5.0 stars ≙ 90 pts → SUPERB [-]

Compared to the 1999 3rd (18 years old) this one is much darker in every way...Nose is actually similar with this one focusing more on the stewed fruits, but the palate is where the experience jumps dramatically. This 1990 ~25 year old is super sticky and rich, without being syrupy. Closest comparison would be the Highland Park The Dark 17 year old, which was a lighter version of this for twice the price. Balblair knocked it out of the park with this one, and comparing against the younger brother definitely enhanced the quality of the 1990. Grab this (or the 1991) while you still can.