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The key ingredients in the Ballantines blends are Miltonduff and Glenburgie as well as whisky from around fifty other distilleries. This is their 12 year old.
Tasting Note by The Chaps at Master of Malt
Nose
Fruit salad and sherry, mixed nuts.
Palate
Rather creamy. Mochaccino and buttery pastry, spice.
Finish
Gentle, spice and fruitcake.
Winner of 8 spirit awards
Gold
Blends aged up to 12 years old - 2013
The Scotch Whisky Masters (The Spirits Business)
Gold
Blends aged up to 12 years old - 2015
The Scotch Whisky Masters (The Spirits Business)
Silver
Blends aged up to 12 years old - 2018
The Scotch Whisky Masters (The Spirits Business)
Gold
Scotch Whisky - Blended - 2019
International Wine & Spirit Competition
Silver Outstanding
Scotch Whisky - Blended - 2013
International Wine & Spirit Competition
Silver Outstanding
Scotch Whisky - Blended - 2014
International Wine & Spirit Competition
Silver
Scotch Whisky - Deluxe Blend - 2017
International Wine & Spirit Competition
Silver
Blended Scotch between 12 and 20 years old - 2019
International Spirits Challenge
Allergy Information
This product does not contain any notifiable allergens
Normally I hate drinking whisky by adding ice onto it as I believe cold suppresses the aromas and taste in the palate would be masked. But with Ballantines 12 years ice clears up the nose and it becomes more pleasant in the palate. It has sweet and fruity taste but it looks like it contains a lot of grain whiskies as well in the blend. However 12 years softens the negative sides of the whisky and ameliorates nose and taste a great deal.
Master of Malt Customer Mar 30, 2019
Reasonable for the price. Won't blow your socks off.
Can we just get something straight here?
"King of Whisky"
"Best Whisky ever"
"Utter Garbage!"
Get a grip guys. You're making fools of yourselves.
I have tried (on several occasions), The "Finest" (why call it that? It doesn't make any sense!), The 12, 15 and 17. If there is a 21 I haven't seen it, or can't remember seeing it on sale. I think in order to properly assess all the others, it is wise to try the 17 year old first and work your way down, noting which compromises have been made to achieve a price-point. Ballantine's is not the most flavourful or challenging whisky out there, but the blenders have done a good job of both developing and retaining a house style throughout the range which doesn't taste like much else and is a lot more consistent that JW. The "Finest" (Argh!) is, well...affordable and it shows in having little body or aftertaste but most importantly, there is nothing offensive about it. It is perfectly acceptable. The 17 is unctious; lemony, oily, sophisticated....if you are preapred to give this some attention. The 15 is...well I can't remember very well because I haven't bought it much. It doesn't have the class of the 17 and it is right at the price where you can start getting some pretty serious (if young) single malt for not a lot more money.
As for the 12; I have no problem with grain whisky making itself known in a dram. I like that "honest kick" which reminds you you're drinking what the Americans call "hard liquor". Surrounding the grain alcohol taste is sweetness, some barley-sugar sweetness, a bit of lemon and even liqourice if I'm being kind and a dry, almost sleazy aftertaste which I find quite stimulating. Right at the end, there is an oily residue and a hint of orange.
Is it the best whisky in the world?
NO!
Is it the best at its price-point?
Probably not. I have a soft spot for Dewars myself.
But put this beside practically any vodka, Jim Beam or "lifestyle drink" like Archers or the myriad other products you see in your local supermarket and it is clear that somebody is at least making the effort. If it was just a touch richer, had a bit more body, I would buy this more often. I suspect that Ballantine's have hamstrung themselves slightly by insisting on an age statement, forcing them to use too much grain alcohol. Ditching the age statement and adding a generous amount of a young, obscure, cask-strength single malt, then bumping up the ABV to 45% would make a huge difference.
Master of Malt Customer Dec 28, 2018
Humdrum blend, much overpriced, look elsewhere
Not impressed. It is richer in taste than the standard Ballantine's, but compared to a single malt, this blended 12 year old comes across as too sweet, too rough and with the alcohol being too obvious. There are some creamy notes to it, like others have said, and a slightly nutty aftertaste, but the main body is mostly tasting like a cheap 5 year old no-name whisky. The blend is acceptable, but it is overpriced for what it is. Life is too short for bad whisky, spend your money elsewhere.
Master of Malt Customer Aug 4, 2018
Not good...
Simple flavour.No dimensions.Didn't grab me.Some 8 y.o. blends are better than this.Smell: good-Taste: bad.I'm disappointed.
Master of Malt Customer Jan 20, 2018
Много тъжно!?
Този вече е спрян...
Имам новия от 2015г.
Обичах го и пазя 20 бутилки в колекцията...
