.ballantine's - 17

43% abv, €45, blend, caramel E150a added

Nose: fresh, granny smith

Palate: sweet, liquorice root

Finish: short, nice little sour note

Score: +++++

Conclusion: Nice, not bitter, full of flavour and mouthfeel. Not that good a nose, but the taste makes up for it.

.ballantine's - 12 - pure malt

40% abv, €25, blended malt, caramel E150a added

Nose: musty, white unripe grapes, plumbs, granny smiths' apples

Palate: mildly sweet, slight sour as apple

Finish: mildly sweet, slight sour as apple

Score: +++++

Conclusion: Not bad. But only just.

.ballantine's - 12

40% abv, €25, blend, caramel E150a added

Nose: sour, smoked paprika, musty, granny smiths'apples

Palate: boring

Finish: short, bitter

Score: +++++

Conclusion: The bitter in the finish is very unpleasant.

.ballantine's - finest

40% abv, €15, blend, caramel E150a added

Nose: wood, wet conifers, grapes

Palate: boring, bitter and sweet, burned caramel

Finish: short, sour red wine

Score: +++++

Conclusion: niet best

After 2 days, in stead of a Glencairn glass, I poured some into a tumbler and I noticed she was much sweeter on the nose, harper on the palate and had a longer and sweeter finish.
Possible some sort of proof that some glasses are different on some whiskies then other glasses. I had not expected a tumbler to be the better glass, but then again, the majority of the targeted consumers will have a tumbler, and not a Glencairn glass.