Country Scotch Whisky
Distillery/Brand Balblair
Distillation Date 1990
Style Single Malt Whisky
Bottling Date 2013

Balblair '90 2nd Release

As the world began its ten-year saunter towards the new Millennium, Balblair distilled this expression of their excellent single malt in 1990 and set it aside to mature in ex-bourbon casks. 21 years later, they moved the whisky over to Oloroso sherry butts for the last two years of maturation before they bottled the single malt for this delicious release.

Tasting Note by The Chaps at Master of Malt

Nose Lush toffee, milk chocolate and a good helping of vanilla. A sprinkle of spice round out the nose.

Palate Citrus fruits come through first, followed by honey-covered raisins. The spice from the nose makes an appearance.

Finish Lengthy and full-flavoured.

Overall Good amounts of sweet fruits and soft spices, a brilliant full-bodied expression.

Winner of 4 spirit awards

Gold
Gold
Scotch Single Malt - Highland - 2017
International Wine & Spirit Competition
Silver Outstanding
Silver Outstanding
Scotch Single Malt - Highland - 2014
International Wine & Spirit Competition
Silver
Silver
Distillers' Single Malts 21 years old and over - 2014
International Spirits Challenge
Bronze
Bronze
Highland Single Malt 21 Years and Over - 2014
World Whiskies Awards

Allergy information

This product does not contain any notifiable allergens
More allergen information



Reviews for Balblair 1990 - 2nd Release
Waist head and Shoulders above most other Malts
I’ve been buying and enjoying this since the days I could get it for around £100-£125.00. This Malt is probably one of the best experiences I or anyone could ever have. Power, complexity, “Balance” and if I had to pick my top 10 of all time this one would be in the top 5. Note there is no number 1 but this one keeps tempting me to say so. Sadly it’s now only available at specialist shops for upwards of £250 or via auctions. I personally think that this one will be looked back at with great sadness when it becomes unachievable. I hope at some point you all get a chance to try this. Exceptional and Brillian.. God bless you ALL at Balblair but it is such a shame that you decided to stop doing vintages. Gone are our chances to capture and enjoy moments of genius like this one.
John M , United Kingdom
4 years ago
Sherry cask done just right
Sherry, but not too much. Hints of salt. Full-bodied. Long finish.
Captain , Luxembourg
6 years ago
a winner !!
wow,,,a real winner,,,dry savory and sweet ..milk choc but not overly sweet...long finish...dry but its like the aftertaste of milk choc,,,so wonderfull.cant stop sipping it !! a dash of water,,and time in the glass..opens it more....for the age and complexity a bargain !!
robert i. b , United States
6 years ago
Wow, I just opened this up tonight and even before it has had time to oxidize and settle down, and it is already amazing!
Wow, I just opened this up tonight and even before it has had time to oxidize and settle down, and it is already amazing!

Nose: Smells like a toffee glaze, milk chocolate, raisins, candied caramel apples, Spicy warm apple cider
Slight vanilla, Apple sauce, nutmeg, brown sugar, cinnamon, and a little bitter oak and leather arm chairs.

Palate:Drying oak, toffee, mild milk chocolate, almonds, Spicy warm apple cider, bitter and sweet prunes, dates. Nutmeg, cinnamon, rum raisin bread, and little black pepper kick
Lastly, I get some slight vanilla and barley sugar notes that in combo with the sherry notes reminds me of Glendronach 15 Revival.

Amazing price to value ratio! I should be reviewing this on my Youtube channel soon! Keith-The Malted Man Cave

Master of Malt Customer
7 years ago
Blown away by this whiskey
Never bought an expensive whisky before but as a celebration following Hospital treatment decided to splash out on a whisky at around 100 pound. After tasting several at a specialist shop , all very nice by the way, Well I was blown away by this Balvenie 1990 I have since bought another bottle and are exploring other single malt 3 cl. samples against the 1990 Balvenie . Very rewarding project on cold winters nights here in Scotland. I would also like to try others from this distillery.

Good health to you.
Lang may your lum reek.
John W , United Kingdom
7 years ago
Nice dram!
A clean sherried malt, yet balanced, it's not a sherry-bomb. Smooth with a lovely finish.
Kenneth , Sweden
7 years ago
Absolute quality
I purchased a balblair 90 , distilled in 1990 and bottled in 2017 that's 27 year old whisky and only 106 quid, that's a steal.
Master of Malt Customer
7 years ago
Superb
This is an excellent, excellent whisky.

It's a rare combination of both lightness and elegance as well as complexity and boldness of flavor. Matured in bourbon barrels for majority of its age and finished in sherry casks, it has a combination of vanilla, butter and mild dryness of used American oak and dried, candied fruit and spice of sherry all aligned in a perfect balance. The spirit itself is both malty and viscous and simultaneously almost mildly effervescent, providing for probably the longest and most mouth enveloping and complex finish that I have had the pleasure of experiencing

(Disclosure: while I am no supreme connoisseur, I have tried Macallan, Glenlivet and Glenmorangie 18s and Glengoyne 21 and have a decent experience with premium Scotch. My tastes lean towards elegance, complexity and balance and not towards smoke or syrupy sherry sweetness. I don't seek out Islays or sherry bombs but I can appreciate them).

Anyways, the flavor profile above combined with US price of $150 for 25 year old whisky presents an excellent deal. I personally have purchased 3 bottles so far. I feel ambivalent about endorsing this so forcefully as it will make this less accessible to myself, but I also fell strongly about encouraging other whisky aficionados to experience this beauty.
Master of Malt Customer
7 years ago
Next to some Alex Murray & Signatory ACEs, Balblair will be on future purchases. Thanks for the top shelf Scotch.
Absolutely delicious. My pallet yearns for highland/speyside single malt finished in Sherry, port, or sauterne casts. I found Balblair 90 in L.A. and took it back home to Kansas City.
Master of Malt Customer
7 years ago
Just buy it
Just buy it. Spectacular. Have this to a newbie to whisky.....he's now hooked on this and won't go for cheaper stuff
Stuart K , United Kingdom
7 years ago