Balblair 12 Year Old Whisky

Lovely sweet, vanilla, baked goods and fruity malt. Ignore the ridiculous 1 star review below

When I first tried this whisky I was underwhelmed, I put it back on the shelf and didn’t bother with it for at least 3 months.

Having went back to it after some time I feel you get a better understanding of this malt. It comes across very simple at first, yet it’s complex and is a perfect example of what gave single malt its popularity.

Malty, honeyed, slightly fruity and juicy. Some barley sugar and slightly creamy .

An absolute steal at the current price point given the way the price of whisky is going. Give it time and learn to appreciate this one , even if you don’t after a first taste.

This delicious dram worth every penny!!!! I had whiskeys double the price and could not come even close to this one. Balblair distillery should be congratulated!!! Natural colour and no chilled filtration at 46%. What else do you need? If you know how to drink these beauties then this one is for you. For me near perfect.....cheers

Throw it down the drain? Really?

No matter how disappointed I doubt any1 actually throws an aged spirit down the bog lol, none I've ever tasted have ever been undrinkable...

Suggestions if you don't fancy drinking neat :
1) Use it as a base for your own individual home made blend (adding a touch of older Scotch can elevate a dissipointment so much, get creative).
2) Use in cocktails / long drinks (Manhattans, Whisky Sours, or with Cola).
3) Use for culinary purposes (fruit cake, mince pies, peppercorn sauce).

We have been drinking whisky for over 40 years and never thought there was such a wretched whisky out there. Harsh and very unpleasant finish. Absolutely no depth just alcohol and an unpleasant taste.
The reviews giving high ratings are a mystery to us.
Thought it maybe down to a temporary loss of taste, but followed it with a 15 year old Glenfarclass, which, reassuringly, was its usual perfection.
Going down the drain !

Light apple juice in colour, and this is replicated on the nose - a massive stewed apple whack with a good dose of nose tingling citrus too, lemon peel and a tartness. Doesn't have any of the spiciness on the nose you might expect from a Highland, smells more like a Speyside with no hint of smoke or peat.

On the first sip it's a mouth tingler, the apple bursts with the sensation of sherbet, not agressive in any way, but also not a gentle malt like Glenmorangie, it has some zing and pleasing sourness to it. No hint of toffee at all, this one is 100% fruity, makes a nice change - it's palette cleansing and refreshing.

Adding a drop of water gives it a white wine feel, smells of grape mixed with the apple. The water also brings out the spice, gentle ginger warmth and a little pepper.

The finish is a little short, the tart apple remains, and a touch of banana sweetness, not unlike the foam sweet bananas you had as a kid.

Lovely bouquet. Smooth with a warmth with a honey and pear finish. Definitely an after dinner drink.

I really wanted to like this one but I’m struggling with it. I bought this 12 from the Balblair distillery having tasted other in the range whilst there. The 12 was my preference. The nose is fabulous. Complex, huge variety of textures and bouquets going on and yet in the mouth it’s both light and simple. The 46% contributes a significant heft to the taste but even adding a drop of water fails to expose those wonderful elements promised by the nose. The finish is semi-dry, not oily but quite long lasting. I hope this bottle gives a little more as I work through it.

Just tried this as a sample in the york whisky shop. As the others who have tried this one. Delicate, smooth and a gentle warmth to this. I agree with the use of term " milky tea finish". For the reasonable cost and a free nosing glass I bought one to enjoy over the weekend of our 23rd wedding anniversary.

I do miss the vintage releases from Balblair but to be fair they have done a decent job here and for those of us who like a range of whisky flavours this wouldn’t be out of place in any whisky cabinet. For me, it’s a start of the night whisky – quite delicate, well balanced and there’s nothing too challenging or overpowering but there is enough complexity to make it interesting. I totally understand why someone would say buy the Clynelish 14 instead but I would say buy them both as they are equally excellent whiskies despite being completely different.