Balblair 2002 1st Release

The chatter about no age statement is amusing, though I admit I don't know the precise age. It might have been distilled in December 2002 and bottled in January 2012, making it just 9 years old, or perhaps closer to 10. Regardless, these are readily available across Kentucky for $30-40. At those prices, it's hard to resist. The aroma offers subtle vanilla, citrus, and herbal notes, with definite pear over hints of crackers and vanilla cake. The taste has a touch of bitterness from herbal and vegetal notes, but then it's all about vanilla, apples, pears, toffee, and pure enjoyment. It's a moderately complex dram that excels at its singular focus. There's nothing extraordinary about it besides the attractive price. If you're seeking an affordable scotch that appeals to fans of spirit-forward bourbon and whisky, this is a fine choice. If you desire something remarkable, this isn't it. I'm giving it a 1.5, but if value is a consideration, I'm quite sure I've seen it for less than the $40 I paid, and with price factored in, it would climb significantly on my list. Of course, one would always choose Old Pulteney ten times out of ten before this.

As another Sunday concludes on this warm summer night (and now a bitterly cold winter), I decided to open this bottle while enjoying some country music by the pool or fire. It has a smooth, fruity aroma of ripe, sweet pears with hints of apricot, honey, lemon citrus, and floral elements – a sweet potpourri of scents. Upon tasting, a soft palate initially delivers a wave of brown sugar. As the brown sugar fades, notes of white pepper and a touch of cherry emerge. The finish leaves the mouth with a brief warmth, transitioning to spice and lemon zest. Over time, this whisky becomes delightfully sweeter, as if a teaspoon of sugar were added. It's a beautiful, gentle dram perfect for a warm, lazy summer day or a cold winter evening, embodying the essence of a summer's day. Wonderful. [89/100][Opened: 7/12/15; 2/14/16]

Aroma - Grapefruit, green apple, lemon, orange, raspberry jam, light wood sap, lime leaf and mint. Taste - Lemon, sherbet, woody, lightly sour, malty and bittered honey. Finishes with a medium lingering flavor and a long-lasting burn. Final score: 3 / 5, wouldn't purchase this again. It's not bad, certainly interesting and engaging, but I personally don't care for it too much.

A 2013 malt year spirit. SMELL: complex, spicy, grapefruit, sour lemon, ginger, wintergreen, chives, peach, floral. TASTE: very zesty, bitter lemon, metallic sourness, demanding, maple syrup, hint of spice, lime leaf, citronella. With Water: magical. Creamy fruity nose, lemon biscuit, oak wood. After 10 minutes, the bitterness subsides, revealing a softer sourness, nutmeg, and greener spirit. FINISH: vanilla, oak, ginseng, fresh fruit. 90/100

This 10-year-old presents a zesty aroma of orange and lemon, followed by other fruits like green apple and a hint of banana. This zestiness continues onto the palate, accompanied by notes that are quite sour yet slightly sweet, perhaps reminiscent of butterscotch and cake frosting. It's surprisingly intricate for its youth.

On the palate, it's light with lemony citrus notes, then concludes with a tingle on the tongue reminiscent of mild jalapeño. Someone here mentioned ginger, and that's precisely it. The finish brings to mind ginger beer.