Ballantine's Finest

Aroma: Gentle cereal and malt scents accompanied by vanilla and pear notes. An ethanol presence is detectable but not unpleasant. Palate: Slightly sharp upon entry with a noticeable ethanol bite. Notes of barley sugar and orchard fruits are present, but the palate is quite delicate, with a touch of vanilla sweetness. No smoke or peat detected; any perception of such is likely due to tannins from aged refill casks. Finish: Brief, with a dry and bitter sensation in the aftertaste, probably from young, basic grain whisky matured in tired casks (a common flaw in most lower-end blended scotches). An unexceptional but not disagreeable whisky. It functions adequately but don't anticipate much from one of the more budget-friendly blended scotches. Adding water reveals a sweetness on the palate and provides a subtly sweet, cereal, vanilla, and fruity background when used as a mixer. A touch of water enhances the palate's sweetness. As a mixer, it imparts a slightly sweet, cereal, vanilla, and fruity backdrop. Overall, not bad considering the price, but it faces strong competition, notably from its sibling blend, Ballantines 12 Year Old, which offers a similar profile but with amplified characteristics. The price difference is minimal, so if Ballantines 12 Year Old is on sale, it presents better value. "Adequate": 73/100 (2.25 stars)

A decent budget scotch for beginners. It's widely available, so I find myself drinking it often. Making it colder improves its drinkability. It's acceptable, but restricted, lacking depth. Suited for casual gatherings. I need to re-evaluate it to give a proper review; I'm unsure if I'll purchase it again soon. I have both the new and old bottle designs, which show a significant aesthetic improvement. v2: After consuming considerably more whisky, I can confirm this has become rather unimpressive. Very basic. Drinkable, but not engaging enough for a formal tasting. nose: sweet, reminiscent of melted and toasted sugar left in the sun, with a touch of orange blossom scent, and of course, vanilla mouth: very bland and short finish, slightly smoky but not peaty, with a bitterness like Australian bread, and an unpleasant melted chocolate note, also a bit oily

Revisiting this two years later to see how Ballantine's stands in 2022 and if new batches after the pandemic have changed anything: Nose - still sharp and young, as expected for a £15 blend. Palate: smooth milk chocolate, apples, salted caramel, mild peat smoke. Finish: mild peat smoke. This batch seems smoother, with a slightly less aggressive smoke note. For a £15 bottle, it has an exceptionally well-balanced blend, with a more intriguing palate than its price competitors and even many mid-range single malts I've tried. Therefore, I'm increasing my previous score from 3.75 to 4. If you're seeking a budget-friendly blend that offers the most for its young age, this is it!

The most widely recognized version of this whiskey. Under the "Ballantines" brand, six different whiskies are currently produced, ranging from the classic Finest to a 30-year aged elite whiskey. Finest is a smooth blend of 50 malt whiskies, leaving a pleasant aftertaste with hints of vanilla, apple, and chocolate. The aroma has nutty notes. More mature Ballantine's (12, 17, 21 Years Old) offer a complex, layered taste with a smoky undertone. The recipes for these blends have remained unchanged for decades and are closely guarded secrets. A good, popular whiskey of good quality. In general, Scotch whisky has a smoky character, making it more appealing than Irish and American whiskies in this regard.

Nose: sweet, grain whisky, light smoke, red apple and canned peach fruitiness, vanilla, mild butteriness, white sugar, honey, light floral notes, light sweet orange citrus, and a good perception of alcohol. Palate: sweetness, spiciness, alcohol warmth, fruitiness, citrus, good bitterness, and slightly buttery. Finish: short with predominant alcohol warmth, some residual sweetness, and bitterness. Overall impressions: an entry-level whisky, simple but well-rounded, that effectively masks its alcohol content. Perfect for mixed drinks with soda or energy drinks.

Aroma: mild sweetness, honey, vanilla, subtle fruit notes, apple, pear, light malt, lightly toasted bread or grain scents, perhaps the faintest hint of orange marmalade. Taste: quite straightforward, mirroring the nose's characteristics, a smoky char emerges with a peppery touch, the finish dissipates rather swiftly with a slightly herbal tone. A respectable scotch for the cost, but not outstanding. Certainly better than many options available for the price. Give it a try; it's easy on the wallet.