Balblair 16yo is one of my favourite standards, but unfortunately no longer being produced. I don't think the new vintage versions are nearly as good. Some old youngsters in this session.
Balblair 10yo 40% G&M cask label
Dark brown tan. Perhaps a good portion of sherried whisky in the mix, remember sherried whisky wasn't that pricy and exclusive back then. I think this one is from the late 70's or early 80's. No evaporation. It smells it smells rich and creamy, coffee, roasted nuts, burnt bread, complex. The taste is well-balanced, sweet sherry, peppery, almonds, nutty, cedar wood, cigar. I'll add a few drops of water. Now it goes into comfort whisky mode, nicely sweet and balanced with some malty and toasty notes.
Perfect example of how a 10yo 40% whisky could and should be: 7
Balblair 20yo 1990-2010 53.7% Bladnoch Whisky Forum cask#166
From an Oloroso sherry butt, seems Balblair likes the european wood. Deep golden/amber color. It smells burnt, stearic, fish stock, quite foul actually. The taste is better, nice heather, ginger, cinnamon, oaky, sweet toffee, if it weren't for the bitter and oaky finish, this would be a great dram.
For sherry-freaks: 6
Balblair 10yo 57% G&M cask label
Ths stronger version of the two cask labels. Red color. It smells peppery, a lot of pepper notes here. Also a bit raw and spirity. The taste iscreamy, rich, butter, salty, pesto, sun-dried tomatoes, oaky, nice sherry influence here. I'll add some water. Now it goes more in the direction of a sweet sherry monster, nice nutty oloroso notes at first before ending very dry.
A nice alternative to older more expensive sherried whiskies: 7
Balblair 10yo 57% G&M Brown, Gold & Red label
Another dark red hue. I believe this is a newer bottling than the cask labelled ones. It smells dry, honeyed, caramel, cream crackers, cinnamon, wheat, licorice, dark chocolate, cigar smoke, damp. The taste is peppery, chillies, cinnamon, red bell peppers, honey, floral, sherried. Once again I think a small portion of water is needed. Now it goes into a nice sweet 'n' dry oloroso style, a bit like some of the best batches of A'bunads or even some great single cask Glengoynes.
Great balance, if you'd say this was a 30yo I'd never doubt you: 9
Balblair 14yo 57.7% Cadenhead's
Light amber color. It smells peppery, greens, turnips, herbal, dry, bitter, sour, fino sherry. The taste is light, pickled onions, cream, turmeric, ginger, vanilla, a nice whisky, but very flat if you know what I mean. Tamed and seems to be a bit less pungent when there's less sherry influence. A great everyday dram, but not fit to celebrate the bigger moments in life.
Seems much lighter than 57.7%: 5.5
Balblair 16yo 58.5% Cadenhead's
Amber color, smells peaty, gravel, wet moss, forest, dry hay, pepper. The taste is sweet, caramel, cream, milk chocolate, perfumy, biscuits, very nice, but take it very neatly. A big swallow of this one will lead way to a peppery sensation which blocks all other tastes in this gentle and very refined whisky. Water makes it sweeter and very tamed. Neat is my advice here.
A nice MOTR whisky: 5
Next tasting: Benrinnes Distillery
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