Balblair 1999 2nd Release

The Balblair clearly took the top spot in this blind tasting. When Balblair produced whiskies by vintage, they were arguably the premier distillery that few discussed. Nearly every bottling, barring the ’04, was exceptional and reasonably priced. I don’t fault them for altering their business approach. Being the best-kept secret distillery isn’t beneficial for them. Rest assured, I will acquire their newer releases once their vintage bottlings have cleared store shelves. For a spirit around 15-16 years old and priced at approximately $100 (I paid $110 for one bottle and $130 for another), the Balblair 1999 presents an astounding aroma. It possesses a perfect bouquet. It has become a common practice for whisky reviewers encountering a rare whisky over 25 years old or exceeding a certain exorbitant price point to boast about how long they spent appreciating its scent before tasting, akin to stamina in intimacy. No one does this for a common-aged, affordably priced whisky. Why not? This Balblair 1999 absolutely warrants an hour of anticipation before a sip. This spirit is an olfactory marvel. The wood and spirit, bourbon and sherry influences are in perfect equilibrium. Notes of honey and a late-autumn forest emerge, alongside carrot cake and frosting; milk chocolate and honey-nut Cheerios; fresh oak and nearly stale figs. I have an open Balblair 1983, which cost thrice the amount of the 1999. If tasted without the blind, I might favor the 1999’s nose. However, the 1999’s palate and finish are not as impressive. It honors the nose but is dominated by younger, less developed malt characteristics. Now, let’s discuss the underperformers, starting from the bottom: Dalwhinnie Distiller’s Edition is a competent whisky; entirely agreeable and approachable. It would serve as a beginner spirit if it weren’t currently priced at $110-120. I recall purchasing this bottle a few years back for a fair $75. Glenlivet 18 year is a more competent spirit, even more agreeable and approachable. One can always rely on Glenlivet 18. It possesses a richness that the Dalwhinnie lacked and remains appropriately priced, similar to the Dalwhinnie DE. The Arran 18 year I have open is from an older bottling style. I observe that newer versions contain a darker liquid. I was quite surprised in this blind tasting that Arran 18 was the sherry-forward expression. I had anticipated Glenlivet 18 would exhibit the most sherry influence. Is Arran aiming to be recognized for its sherry maturation? It is a very good sherry whisky, this 2016 Arran 18 year, but I believe I prefer their former ex-bourbon release, the now-discontinued Arran 14 year old. I wish I had a second bottle of Compass Box Menagerie. A concerning trend at my local liquor stores is the rapid depletion of Compass Box limited releases, similar to allocated bourbons. I had to pay a premium of $170 to obtain this bottle. It is nearly finished, three months after opening, indicating it is a good one; however, I remain undecided if it warrants being sought after. On one hand, it evokes the essence of That Is Not A Luxury Whisky, if it truly weren't a luxury whisky; on the other hand, it contains a significant amount of Mortlach with a hint of Laphroaig, leading me to believe that an ideal blend would combine a quality Mortlach with a quality Laphroaig. Returning to the Balblair 1999: Score: ** (incredibly excellent) Bottle cost?: Approximately $100-130 at retail if found. I do not believe the secondary market has significantly inflated the price. My perceived value?: $260

Stop number 63, and the final official stop for round 4 of the SDT, is Balblair. This Highland distillery opts for vintages instead of age statements. This allows them to sample their casks and decide when they are ready for vatting, rather than being bound by set age statement releases. This is the second release from the 1999 vintage, bottled in 2014, making it approximately 15 years old. It's bottled at 46% ABV, is non chill-filtered, and has a natural yellow-gold color. The nose begins with abundant honey. It quickly shifts to apples, pears, tangerines, oranges, and apricots. Almonds, ginger, and cinnamon are present. Light chocolate and vanilla notes emerge. It's quite malty with a pleasant peppery note, coming across much like an unpeated Talisker. Grape skins and a very subtle sherry note are buried deep within. Faint oak and some caramel are also detected. The overall nose is light. I truly wish there was more complexity. The palate is very malty with barley sugar and honey. There's light sherry sweetness and a little pepper, again reminiscent of Talisker but without the peat smoke or intense pepper. Tangerines, apricots, and oranges are noticeable. Some brown sugar and caramel are present. Raisins, mild oak, and almonds conclude the palate. A medium-light body provides a mouthfeel that starts slightly mouthwatering but becomes dry. The finish is medium in length, dry, with tangerines and slightly bitter almonds. After seeing highly positive reviews from some people, I had high expectations for this one, but it seems to fall a bit short for me. While I definitely appreciate the resemblance to Talisker, I'm not looking for an unpeated imitation. The complexity just wasn't there for a 15-year-old. It's very much like an improved Glenmorangie 10. However, at more than double the price, purchasing a full bottle isn't really worthwhile. Round 4 was enjoyable, but this Balblair was not among the best samples, though not the worst either. Thanks for the sample, my rating is 3.75. Cheers 🥃

Info: What a beautiful box! It opens like a door with magnets, featuring images and text inside... aesthetic interlude over. I can't say I particularly enjoyed Balblair's recent releases and had avoided this distillery for a while, having had a bad impression (aside from the 1990). I finally gave in to the positive comments about this bottle and a special offer I found (when the stars align!). This scotch is a combination of ex-American bourbon barrels and Spanish ex-sherry butts from 1999. To my knowledge, there have been 4 releases of this bottle, with the first being a "traveler exclusive" (only available in duty-free shops). The initial release had a stronger sherry influence than subsequent editions. My tasting notes are for the second edition of the Balblair 1999, bottled in 2016. Unchill-filtered, no added color. It has received two awards: gold in 2015 for "Highlands & Islands 13-18 yo - The Scotch Whisky Masters (The Spirits Business)" and silver in 2017 at the "International Wine & Spirit Competition." Nose: Fresh herbs and green apples (influenced by the green color?), it's fruity indeed! Yes, I confirm green apples! Fresh and sweet! An orchard, apple blossoms. Grapes? Palate: Apples and grapes, yes! Nice sherry notes! Good oily texture. Vanilla. Finish: Sweet apple juice. Dark chocolate and honey and orange. Overall: Okay! It's very, very smooth! Those who like to have their mouths blasted by a heavy cask strength peated whisky will be disappointed. For lovers of fruitiness and balance, it's a beautiful gem! I agree with the other positive reviews for this bottle. The sherry notes add an extra layer of complexity that other Balblair editions lack. Far from a sherry bomb, but very well-balanced! 88%

I received a large number of samples from the tour group. This one, sent by a friend, was quite delayed, but it's here now. The aroma is quite substantial. Immediate and prominent notes of rich honey and Irish Tea. Ripe apples, dried apricots, vanilla, heather, malt, and milk chocolate, like Whoppers candy. Wow! Then, orange wedges appear. Add a pinch of baking spices: cinnamon, nutmeg. After a good while, faint sherry notes emerge. This is worth your attention. The taste is soft and thick, and like the aroma, it's rich with honey. As the honey sweetness starts to fade, cinnamon spices and black pepper build. The spiciness then softens back to sweetness: vanilla, caramel, more ripe apples, and milk chocolate. Oranges, pepper, oak, vanilla, and more honey on the finish complete the whiskey experience. It's a bit short, and I wish it lasted longer. This is a honey-forward whiskey from start to finish. The spice provides a pleasant contrast without detracting from the main character of the whiskey. It's like taking a scenic route to avoid traffic, only to rejoin the main road later. If there's one flaw or criticism, it's that the finish doesn't match the depth of the nose and palate. Overall, a very enjoyable whiskey that you can pour and simply savor anytime. It was worth the wait, but don't delay too long. [90/100][Tasted: 3/3/18] ——————————— Quick hit: Honey; heather; oak; ginger [Whiskyfest 17]

I'm starting to finish up the sample bottles I received from our fourth round of the Distillery Tour group. This Highland malt from Balblair is the second release of the 1999 vintage. I think this is considered a 15-year-old single malt; I'm just uncertain why it's not explicitly stated on the label. This malt has a slightly higher ABV of 46%. I'm also unsure if it's non-chill filtered or has added coloring. It has a lovely gold appearance and shows some silky, thin legs in the Glencairn. The aroma begins with faint oak, and only after about 25-30 minutes of letting it sit do you get rewarded with some sweet honey and sherry undertones. There's a hint of spice cake in there if you truly put in the extra effort and time required to uncover it. The palate is remarkably complex, offering a sensational, full mouthfeel. It starts with vanilla and apples, frequently shifting between sweet and light spices throughout the entire sip. It's captivating. The finish is medium to long, consistently warming yet incredibly smooth. In summary, this is a Highland malt I could genuinely stand behind and purchase repeatedly, remaining completely satisfied with it from one bottle to the next. It won't astound you with unexpected twists, but you could choose this one for every tasting session and feel thoroughly content each time. Many thanks to my new friend, @Telex, for this sample. Outstanding selection! 4.25 stars. Cheers.

It won't be long until we'll all be longing for the days before the marketing department ruined Balblair. These vintage statements as a brand staple were truly awesome and really set Balblair apart, sadly we'll now be getting boring age statements and the premium value in the brand will fade a touch. Nose - Light honey, vanilla, pepper, baking spice, and subtle citrus. Taste - Plenty of vanilla, butter, spicy notes (the European oak is prominent here), and apples. It's a genuinely nice complex whisky, but I get a pleasant oily and buttery sensation that ties everything together instead of letting the flavors seem disconnected. This was my initial experience with Balblair, and it motivated me to seek out more of their expressions. Unfortunately, I've only managed to find younger ones that don't feature sherry casks. I truly enjoy this one and am quite disappointed to see the brand moving away from its origins in an effort to increase prices through marketing strategies.