Ballantine's 17 Year

Nose: Soft, gentle and led by subtle wood aromas that remind me of cedarwood shavings. Malted barley, cereal, fresh and dried apple, a touch of brine and some grassy notes. You certainly smell grain whisky, but it's high quality. I get very little of the smoky note that is often mentioned. Palate: Silky-sweet, dulcet cereal arrival - very welcoming. There is nothing whatsoever confrontational about this palate. Orchard fruits appear in mid-palate balanced by a subtle salt note and a miniscule hint of spice. There is also a toffee/fudge presence and if you let this whisky sit for a while to open in the glass it becomes more obvious. However the immediate core of the palate is dilute black tea, and way in the distance there is some smoke, but it is vanishingly light. Finish: Short. Fades out into a generic grain whisky character, with the weak tea and some watery cereal being all that remain on the aftertaste. Whether or not you like this will depend entirely on whether you enjoy old-school blended scotch, because that is the profile here in spades. It is remarkably easy to drink and soft, dare I say "smooth", and at the risk of being outrageously politically incorrect it is a very "feminine" profile. Unlike the Ballantine's Finest and 12 year old blends (both of which I quite like) this is not crafted to be used as a mixer or diluted in any way - unless perhaps with just a dash of soda water. It is intended specifically for neat consumption and is made to be as agreeable and accommodating as possible. This is a whisky that even non-whisky drinkers will enjoy. It is similar to Haig Gold Label and in common with that expression it has an intentionally muted malt presence and a dependence on good quality, soft grain whisky. If this sounds like the sort of thing you like then you will certainly enjoy this whisky. However if you crave sharply defined, highly-lit flavours and aromas then look elsewhere because this will seem watery. I'm enjoying this bottle, which I picked up on special at about 2/3 normal price (the price given below is the normal retail) but even at that discount I probably wouldn't bother buying it again. "Above Average" : 82/100 (3.25 stars)

Even if i hated Ballantine's finest and Ballantine's 12yo, i went to a club last night and after looking the liquor chart, the only one i did not had before was this Ballantine's 17yo. Obviously i asked to see the bottle and it had a gorgeous old-looking label. Well, this is a very good dram. I wouldn't buy it, but i recognize there is a galaxy of difference between the horrible finest and 12yo from this one. Bottled at 43%abv, with a chesnut oloroso sherry color. On the nose the first note is salt and some dry grass. After breathing a little it changes to a sweeter aroma, with vanilla cream, milk chocolate and butter cake. I think it was a little dim and i rated it 21 over 25. On the palate is much much better. And i believe this is the most wonderful hobbie in the world (to review whiskies) because it shows you how a cereal note can be awful sometimes and other times is pleasant. This dram felt very good in the palate with tobbacco and cereal notes, pleasant hotness, and a peppery sensation that numbs your lips a little. Some smoke too. The aftertaste is long and nice, very mouth watering. Overall i rate this dram with a particular high note: 91 over 100 (because of my rating system) but it felt more like an 89 over 100. In any case it is a good dram (that i wouldn't buy) and it deserves the high score i have given to it.

- Pernod Ricard (mesmo da Chivas) - Malts: Scapa, Glenburgie, Miltonduff e Glentauchers - Blended Scotch - 40% ABV - Melhor whisky do mundo em 2011 por Jim Murray - 2º Marca de whisky mais vendida no mundo Olfato: adocicado do malte, mel, baunilha, muito aroma de doce de leite, leve chocolate ao leite,frutado puxando a frutos amarelos, amanteigado, whisky de grãos (com maior percepção para os single malts), floral, leve amadeirado de madeira antiga, leve picância e álcool muito bem resolvido. Quase imperceptível, mas possui uma leve fumaça. Paladar: boa correspondência com o olfato, apresentando-se menos adocicado (apesar de ser), mais picante, maior percepção álcool (porém não desagrada muito), amargor robusto, baunilha, leve amadeirado, mel, frutado e mais seco. Levíssimo defumado. Me pareceu menos balanceado no paladar do que no olfato, mas, mesmo assim, continua um whisky suave. Finalização: curta, com predominância do adocicado, amargor, amadeirado e um pouco de calor do álcool. Impressões gerais: blended whisky suave, macio, relativamente complexo e com excelente custo benefício. Recomendo para degustação pura, com gelo ou mesmo em coquetéis mais elaborados e que exijam um whisky de melhor qualidade.

Blowhard Jim Murray's Whisky of the Year in 2011. Copper colour (seems artificial), though decent legs. Nose is light, but actually quite nice. Sea salt, vanilla, toffee. Maple syrup, fresh fruit (apples, pear). Light smoke and fresh peat in waves. A grassy, heather honey floralness. Melons and faint pretzel dough (a flavour I get in many blends). Sweet taste, bordering on too sweet. Apple, pear, vanilla, maple syrup, toffee/caramel, and very light peat/sea salt. Soft pepper and spice, especially if you let it sit on the tongue. Short finish of fruit and vanilla and sweet wood. Very much a "tour of Scotland"-type blend that hits most of the major notes across the different regions/styles of the country (Speyside fruits, Islay smoke, island brine, sherried sweetness, etc.,); a nice blend, but it really does lean a bit too sweet for my tastes. Not *demonstrably* better than a number of blends half the price, but quite enjoyable--I finished the bottle awhile ago (tasting notes are from an old notebook), but I think fondly upon this whisky. Not *too* fondly, however. Ultimately, it's one of that genre of luxury whiskies that's got more prestige than flavour--even if I did quite enjoy the flavours that *are* here.

“Fresh and light” whisky, which is really good on any occasion, even for dining instead of wine! On the nose I feel a fruit salad and strong vanilla. On the palate vanilla, creme brulé, figs, even marzipan. Oily whiskey, which leaves a pleasant spicy touch on the tongue. Citrus finish, slightly bitter, very balanced. An excellent whiskey, but which I personally did not find phenomenal like the great Jim Murray, who has a real passion for this product! De gustobus! _______________________________________________________________________________ Whisky “fresco e leggero”, che va bene davvero in ogni occasione, anche per pasteggiare al posto del vino! Al naso sento una macedonia di frutta e forte vaniglia. Al palato vaniglia, creme brulé, fichi, anche marzapane. Whisky oleoso, che lascia una piacevole punta piccante sulla lingua. Finale agli agrumi, leggermente amarognolo, molto bilanciato. Un whisky ottimo, ma che personalmente non ho trovato fenomenale come invece il sommo Jim Murray, che ha una vera passione per questo prodotto! De gustibus!

The best blended whisky to date. So complex yet so smooth. Rich honey on the nose with subtle briney peat (subtly Talisker-esque) with slight green fruits (pear/apple). On the palate, quite malty progressing to dark chocolate/cocoa. The subtle peat lingers with slight leather. The finish? A gradual controlled crescendo of vanilla cream and a peppery, spiced cinnamon finish. A heartwarming drawn out finish with gradual warming of the chest. An amazing blend. So much complexity yet so well directed and steered fron start to finish.