Ballantine’s Finest vs Teacher's Whisky

In the world of whisky, few comparisons are as intriguing as the showdown between Ballantine’s Finest and Teacher’s whisky—an affordable blended whisky battleground for these two brands. Today, we’ll delve into the intricacies of Ballantine’s Finest vs Teacher’s whisky, exploring what makes these blends unique and irresistible to whisky enthusiasts.

In the world of whisky, few comparisons are as intriguing as the showdown between Ballantine’s Finest and Teacher’s whisky—an affordable blended whisky battleground for these two brands. Today, we’ll delve into the intricacies of Ballantine’s Finest vs Teacher’s, exploring what makes these blends unique and irresistible to whisky enthusiasts.

India has earned its reputation as one of the world’s most enthusiastic whisky-drinking nations. While homegrown Indian distilleries like Amrut and Paul John have made a mark, the Indian market also embraces distinguished Scottish whiskies with open arms.

Names like Chivas Regal, Glenlivet, Ballantine’s, Teacher’s, Jack Daniel’s, and Johnnie Walker grace the shelves of liquor stores across the country. Moreover, many local brands, such as Signature whisky, Royal Stag, Antiquity Blue, and Royal Challenge, are exclusively available in India. It’s essential to note that these regional favourites are a rarity outside of India.

In this head-to-head comparison, I’ve chosen my favourite, Ballantine’s Finest, and pitted it against Teacher’s whisky, renowned for its affordability and popularity in India.

Ballantine’s Finest Whisky

Let’s begin with Ballantine’s Finest, a Scotch whisky with a legacy dating back to 1827. George Ballantine embarked on a journey of providing a meticulously curated range of blended Scotch whiskies to discerning customers from his grocery store in Edinburgh. The brand flourished, and in 1895, Queen Victoria bestowed upon George Ballantine & Son a Royal Warrant.

Today, Pernod Ricard owns and continues the tradition of Ballantine’s. The heart of Ballantine’s Finest is a blend of up to 50 malts, including names like Miltonduff and Glenburgie, alongside four single grains.

Teacher’s Whisky

Turning our gaze to Teacher’s whisky, we find one of India’s more budget-friendly Scottish blends. It’s not uncommon to see friends in places like Bangalore stocking up on cases of Teacher’s. Founded around 1830 by William Teacher, this brand began its journey by selling blends from his wife’s Glasgow grocery store.

It wasn’t until 1863 that Teacher perfected the Highland Cream blend, officially registering the brand in 1884. Over time, the portfolio expanded to include the Ardmore distillery; at one point, they even held ownership of GlenDronach. Today, Teacher’s is a proud member of the Beam Suntory family.

The heart of Teacher’s whisky still derives from the Ardmore distillery, characterized by peat-smoked malt. Jim Murray, renowned in the whisky world, bestowed a remarkable rating of 90 upon Teacher’s whisky in his Whisky Bible.

Ballantine’s Finest vs Teacher’s Highland Whisky Comparison

	Ballantine's Finest whisky	Teacher's Highland Cream whisky
Type	Blended Whisky	Blended Whisky
ABV	43%	43%
Colour	Light gold	Dark gold
Nose	Fruitcake, glazed cherries, wood and spice.	Smoke, gentle earthy peat, raw alcohol, vanilla, malty notes. Quite subtle.
Palate	Smooth with a full body. Flavours of Christmas cake, dried fruit and muscovado sugar. In the background are hints of peat and smoke. Complex and delicious.	Notes of smoke, peat and pepper but it has a raw alcohol edge. Fruity sweetness only comes out after you add a bit of water. Water tones down the raw alcohol notes but make the smoke and peat disappear.
Finish	The finish is brilliant. Long and lingering, It ends in notes of spice, ginger and fudge.	Long and spicy with hints of pepper.
My Rating	Divine	Good
Price	$27	$25

I titled this feature ‘The Battle of the Budget Blends’ on my social media this weekend, reflecting the fun and excitement of our tasting experience. To ensure an unbiased evaluation, we conducted a blind taste test. Even without labels, Ballantine’s Finest stands out with ease.

After allowing both drams to breathe for about 10 minutes, I noticed the initial alcohol notes that had greeted me with Teacher’s had evaporated. What remained was a delightful sweetness that emerged over time, almost verging on cloying with the addition of water.

The Teacher’s Highland Cream whisky had notes of earthy peat, malt and vanilla mixed with fruity sweetness and pepper.

In contrast, Ballantine’s Finest maintained its character as a delicious, smooth, and easy-drinking whisky throughout. There is bold notes of Christmas cake, dried fruit, and cherries mingling with oak, ginger and fudge. Full bodied and delicious.

These two blended drams boast similar prices, making the competition even more intriguing. As I reflect on the feedback from my social media posts, it’s evident that Teacher’s whisky has a dedicated fan base, with around 50% of the commentators declaring it their favourite.

Teacher’s whisky might find its niche in cocktails where you want a hint of smokiness. However, John and I agree: Ballantine’s Finest takes the crown in this battle. Its easy-drinking nature, creamy texture, and overall deliciousness make it a top choice for whisky enthusiasts seeking an exceptional experience.

When it comes to Ballantine’s Finest vs Teacher’s whisky, there’s no denying the enduring charm and excellence that Ballantine’s Finest brings to the table.

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