.balblair - 2003 - 1st release

Balblair has been known the last couple of years for their Vintage releases in stead of an Age Statement. In this case, the first release of their 2003 vintage has matured in a series of second fill ex-Bourbon casks and is bottled in 2013.

.balblair - 1992-2012

60,9% abv, €70, single malt, non-chill filtered, natural colour

Nose: sweet, vanilla, toffee, milk-chocolate, citrus, limes, prunes, apricots
Palate: sweet, vanilla, strong - even with water, dark chocolate, coffe beans
Finish: strong, long, sweet, vanilla, honey, chocolate, coffee beans
Mark: ++++/+

Conclusion: Hot Damn...

More info: I bought this on our first trip to Scotland. It was the first time I decided to buy a bottle straight from a cask inside a distillery. I then promised myself I would open this on my 40th birthday, and since that date has passed, the bottle is open...

Distilled in 1992, put into cask 2990 and bottled into bottle number 82 on 30/04/2012

.balblair - 1975 - 2nd release

46% abv, single malt, non-chill filtered, natural color

Nose: wood, raisins, milk chocolate, walnuts, liquorice, poffert, raisins that have been soaking rum for a while. Later there is some peat.
Palate: Apple pie, the rum-soaked raisins are still there, but a honey sweetness accompanies it, walnuts, various fruits, chocolate, herbs... It never ends.
Finish: long, dry, sweet, liquorish
Score: +++++

Conclusion: Ooh. That was nice. I would like want must have a bottle. Make that two. You know it is my birthday soon?

More info: Matured in American oak ex-Fino-Sherry casks.

Tasted in a so-called Twitter Tasting where the participants were sent three samples.

.balblair - 1990

50,4% abv, single malt, non-chill filtered, natural color, single cask, cask strength

Nose: bees-wax, a smouldering campfire, gentle, salted butter, citrus, lime, warm apple pie and some brininess
Palate: honey sweet, like eating good fresh honeycomb, red fruits, watermelon, apple pie, ginger
Finish: dry and sweet at the same time. Long, with hints of ginger again
Score: +++++

Conclusion: Awesome. Next morning, the glass smelled of a huge chocolate fountain, with lots of dark chocolate.

More info: Matured in an American oak ex-Bourbon cask, previously used for maturing Islay whisky. Exclusively for Master of Malt, cask #1466, 1990 - 2013

Tasted in a so-called Twitter Tasting where the participants were sent three samples.

.balblair - 1997 - 2nd release

46% abv, single malt, non-chill filtered, natural color

Nose: fresh, yellow fruits, pineapple, granny smiths' apples, flowers, honey, coconuts, vanilla and a whiff of leather
Palate: soft, sweet, little tingle on the tongue, gentle, vanilla, flowers, heather, honey, Toffifee (first the caramel, later the chocolate).
Finish: medium long, slight bitter, yet lovely with honey flavours, cereals, heather, ginger.
Score: +++++

Conclusion: Very dangerous. It starts mild and gentle and suddenly grabs you by the throat. Nice one.

More info: matured in first refill American oak ex-Bourbon casks. 1997 - 2012

Tasted in a so-called Twitter Tasting where the participants were sent three samples.

.balblair - 2000 - 1st release

40% abv, single malt, natural color

Nose: Gentle, fresh, grapes, white wine, vanilla, citrus, yellow fruits
Palate: spicy, chocolate, vanilla, slight fresh bitterm toffee, fruits
Finish: long, vanilla, slightly bitter, spicy, warm
Score: +++++

Conclusion: Very gentle, quite sweet, slightly bitter with a great spicy aftertaste that lasts and lasts.

More info: Like all current bottlings of Balblair, this is a limited release, based on the vintage of the distillate. the subtext 1st release hints at a larger stock, with possibilities to release more of this fine spirit.

.balblair - 1989 - 2nd release

43% abv, single malt, non-chill filtered, natural color

Nose: gentle, round, has a slow start, fruits, sweet white wine, wine gums, banana, eucalyptus
Palate: toffe, round, full, ed fruits, berries, orange, marmalade
Finish: spicy, firm, sweet, banana-feeling, warm
Score: +++++

Conclusion: Beautiful, gentle, yet firm. Sweet, yet fresh-sour/ bitter. Somewhat confusing due to the hard to find nose, the mouthful of fruits and the firm, spicy finish.

More info: distilled in 1989, bottled in 2010.