Ballantine's Gold Seal 12 Year Old

Ballantines 12 Year Old

This whisky was another weeknight surprise session on the same night I tasted Glendronach 8 A few weeks back I got a taste of Ballantyne's 17 & it was a pretty great dram (I didn't take any notes). I was not expecting the maturity and presence that whisky had, there was a well balanced, fruity and herbal side and a well integrated peat/smoke...

Score 81/100

Ballantines 17 Year Old

I was going to save this for New Year's, but fuck it - I had to try it as soon as I got home (New Year's will be champagne, let's face it). This whisky is absolutely luxurious, and possibly the best blend I've ever had. Light honey amber colour, coats the glass nicely when you swirl. A lot in the nose: floral and citrusy, nutty and some peatiness...

Score 97/100

Ballantines Finest

After the Ballantines 1965, 1985 and 2008 I will now try a more recent bottling. The label says this was bottled on the 16th February 2015. The nose is soft and sweet with an unmistakable smoky edge. Mildly sweet and sour at first whiff, the nose evolves toward young, yellow apples and loads of heather. Some (I would almost say obligatory)...

Score 79/100

Ballantines Finest

Nose, Taste, Finish and Balance are graded out of 2.5 each: Nose: So creamy and citrusy, it's like smelling a lemon mousse, doused in pear liquor. Some faint spice in the air from the grain, but not at all dominant. 2.0 Taste: Very creamy and full bodied on the tongue. I've hear this blend be described as velvety and that's exactly what it is....

Score 90/100