Balblair 17 year old Whisky

The third in my series on the new Balblair age statement releases and this week I look at the Balblair 17 year old single malt Scotch whisky. The Balblair 12 year old whisky set the foundation on which the rest of the series stands.

This is followed by the Balblair 15 year old, which is just delicious. The Balblair 17 year old whisky is a travel retail exclusive, so not quite part of the standard range, but something to look forward to when you travel.

Balblair is one of Scotland’s oldest distilleries. Founded in 1790 by John Ross, the distillery lies in Edderton in the Northern Highlands of Scotland. Balblair is owned by Inver House Distillers who also own the anCnoc whisky and Speyburn whisky brands.

Interestingly only an estimated 15% of Balblair’s capacity is bottled as a single malt. The rest are all used for blends, including Hankey Bannister.

The Balblair 17 year old single malt whisky is matured in American oak ex-bourbon casks and then finished in first-fill Spanish oak butts. It is not chill-filtered with no added colour.

Balblair 17 year old Whisky Review

REGION: Highland

ABV: 46%

COLOUR: Gold

NOSE: Dark chocolate, bits of sultanas and cherries with wood spice. Minced fruit, oak and pepper.

PALATE: Not as sweet as the 15 year old with more wood spice and fruit. Nutmeg, white pepper mixed with vanilla. Red apples, sweet figs and juicy oranges with oak and hints of honey. Bold and chewy with a medium body. Adding water makes the 17 year old a bit sweeter, but interestingly, it does not tone down on the spicy notes.

FINISH: Dark chocolate and pepper with a hint of dried orange peel in the background.

RATING: EXCELLENT

The Balblair 15 year old release showcased the fruity sweeter part of the Balblair style. This Balblair 17 year old whisky focused on the more wood spice part of the profile. It is delicious and a perfect after-dinner whisky.

This whisky will work well with a cheese board filled with fresh fruit and mature cheddar cheese. Next time I look at the last of my samples, the Balblair 18 year old whisky.

Sample disclosure: I received this sample from Balblair. Though received as part of a promotional event, the review and tasting notes are my own honest, fair and independent thoughts about the whisky.