Balblair Whisky – Double Tasting 1989 & 2000 Vintage Releases
When Jim and Nicola visited the Glasgow Whisky Festival last month our friends at the Balblair stand gave us a couple of tasting bottles for us to taste and review, which we were more than glad to do.
Balblair Distillery,
Edderton,
Tain,
Ross-shire,
IV19 1LB
telephone 01862 821273
website www.balblair.com
Owners…Inver House Distillers (Thai Beverages plc)
Established in 1790, this distillery is one of the oldest working distilleries in Scotland. It lies in Edderton situated on the shores of the Dornoch Firth in the Northern Highlands, surrounded by some splendid mountains. You could go a long way to find a distillery sitting in a more scenic and unspoilt surroundings than Balblair.
This distillery has a great website and we would recommend that you give it a wee visit to find out all about Balblair and their many expressions.
Now lets get down to some tastings, our first of the night will be :-
Balblair 2000 Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 1st Release, 43% Alc/vol, 70cl.
Colour…Shining light gold
Jim’s Tasting
Nose…Full of exotic Caribbean fruits, banana and especially pineapple, with hints of green apples and some pears.
Taste…The fruits are still their but with added vanilla spice and a touch of oak woodiness.
Finish…Not too long a finish, but what a great aperitif.
Score…3 Corks
Nicola’s tasting
Nose…Heavy with coconut and pineapples, could be a pina-colada.
Taste…Vanilla and more fruits, pears and plenty of pineapples, ultra smooth.
Finish…Medium finish with a wee touch of floral notes.
Score… 3.5 Corks
This dram is so easy drinking, ultra smooth and a shear delight to sip. Lets go to our second tasting of the evening.
Balblair 1989 Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 2nd Release, 43% Alc/vol 70cl.
Colour…Pale butterscotch with lemon highlights
Jim’s Tasting
Nose…This is not unlike the 2000 but a wee bit heavier with some raisins and more oak.
Taste…Quite a complex wee dram with loads of oak and spice, the fruit is always there.
Finish…Medium to long finish, and a little dry.
Score…3 Corks
Nicola’s tasting
Nose…Orchards of peach’s with spice and raisins.
Tasting…Spice and fruit together with a sweet spicy tablet, apples are to be found in here also.
Finish…Medium finish with spices lingering.
Score…3 Corks
Well, these two went down well, that makes three Balblair expressions we have tasted, and it only makes us want to go on and try the other vintages :- 1965, 1975, 1978, and the 1990. So Jim and Nicola will be looking out for these and will add them to or cabinet as soon as we can.
Now that Christmas is almost upon us please buy any of our tastings and have them as an aperitif just before you big Christmas meal, you will enjoy.