Ballantines Finest whisky was Jim Murray's No Age Statement Blend of the Year with a whopping 96 points! The critic seems to have a real penchant for the brand, awarding the 17 year old expression a similar score. Ballantines Finest is a great all-rounder - easy-going and very flavoursome. A classic blend.
Expressive, crisp barley sugars. Touch of wood smoke, toffee.
Rich and sweet. Barley and caramel, very gentle peat.
Soft and sweet, fudge.
Hi, bought two bottles in duty free Faro, on unpacking in Scotland could smell the whisky, the screw caps of these bottles can be undone ever so slightly without breaking the seal, lying on their backs travelling home one of them leaked ever so slightly, no great volume, but if spirit can get out then air can get in, disappointed, drank this stuff for many years, never had this problem before, bad batch?
Great taste and experience...
Is there anybody out there who also found 'chocolate' in it when it is neat and sipped in a discreet manner.
Tastes like a below average blend to me. Very bland indeed...... 96 points? Behave yourself......
Close to a year ago I sent an email to Ballantine corporate. When you unscrew the cap the little white thing inside the top of the bottle with those four little things on it would always come off and if you weren't watching you would pour for shots instead of one. Well they listened and I just opened a new bottle and that little white thing at the top is inside the bottle with nothing on the outside. It's perfect and I take out my pocket knife and cut those for Little Wings off. Just wanted to say thank you for listening. It's a rarity these days. Everyone else loves it too.
