Whiskybase

Balblair 18-year-old

Overall rating
85.96/100
votes
73
Category
Single Malt
Distillery
Bottler
Distillery Bottling
Bottled
2019
Stated Age
18 years old
Strength
46.0 % Vol.
Size
700 ml 700 ml
Bottle code
L197075 R19/5129
Added on
28 Mar 2019 3:42 pm by holborndrinker
UncoloredNon-chillfiltered
Balblair 18-year-old
Photo by Whiskybase Shop
Balblair 18-year-old
Photo by Ana_tol
Balblair 18-year-old
Photo by Ana_tol
Balblair 18-year-old
Photo by Ana_tol

Average value

€ 130.25

Found 20 online shops. Lowest price:

€ 99.95
gb Hard To Find Whisky £ 117.00
sc Loch Fyne Whiskies £ 125.00
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8 × in wishlist

73 × member ratings

59 × in collection

Whisky Reviews for Balblair 18-year-old

22 users have left a review for this whisky and scored it an average of 85.96 points

  1. WhiskyLovingPianist scored this whisky 85 points Connoisseur

    https://whiskylovingpianist.wordpress.com/2020/01/22/twe-show-2019-balblair/

    C: The same profile as the 15yo, just with more oak maturation, simples! Also, there’s a touch more mushroom foostiness on the finish gaining it an extra point. The price of around £115 is a stretch for a malt of this calibre and age however.

  2. Cask1988 did not rate this whisky Expert Senior

    Part 3/8 of a Balblair range share. The previous 12 and 15 were decent whiskies and pleasant to drink. Let’s see what an adult Balblair has to offer.
    • Nose
      The nose gives a nice balance between the lighter bourbon cask flavors and the more intense sherry butt influences. One is not overpowering another. That’s a good start. I get leather, espresso, apricot and dark chocolate. Mild spices and some toffee of the bourbon cask are still there in the background, supporting the whole and giving it a mature and complete nose.
    • Taste
      That is what I call a silky arrival. Creamy after a short while. A treat to the palate and evolving quite nicely. Ultra soft. Sweet and pleasant! Apricot, a whiff of tobacco and caramel fudge. A little more sharp/bitey spices join after 10-15 seconds.
    • Finish
      Finish is medium-long. It’s delicate and friendly. Here it gives a fudgy mouthfeel. Caramel sweetness and a tad bitterness of burnt oak wood.

      Without taking the price in consideration this is probably the most complete of the 3 (12,15,18). BUT taking the price into account, this is way to expensive. I guess that is thé Achilles heel of this expression. For let’s say +/- €60 this would be something I consider buying. At the current price..hell no!

  3. peatbogger scored this whisky 85 points Specialist

    Tasted at the distillery.
    The line up of 12, 15, 18 follows an even progression.
    With a progression in price as well.
    The 18 has the most flavour, yet the 15 was my fav, and still I think the 12 is best value for money.
    • Nose
      85 85
      This has spent it's extra years in some good sherry wood.
      The sherry influence is much deeper than on the 15.
      Still not completely covering the lighter fruity notes of the bourbon casks, but this has added notes of raisins, prunes, more and darker chocolate, coffee and leather.
    • Taste
      86 86
      Very rich on the darker notes without going to any extremes.
      Well rounded and on the sweet side, although it feels a bit more dry than it's younger siblings.
    • Finish
      85 85
      We are approaching a long finish.
      Chocolate and coffee, slightly drying.

  4. lachaineduwhisky did not rate this whisky Expert Senior

    Tasted in the living room

    More based on leather and sherry than the 15 years, the value added compared to the latter is very low (the balance is worse if we take into account the price)

    Enthusiasm 2/5

    Whisky n ° 2033

  5. rpvdwel scored this whisky 84 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      84 84
    • Taste
      85 85
    • Finish
      84 84

  6. Defeatless scored this whisky 85 points Expert Senior

    Tasted in a Balblair sample range share.
    This one was my last sample. I can conclude that I don't have to buy Balblair anymore. Price-quality is gone. This is a good example of it.
    • Nose
      87 87
      This is a decent nose. Nice balance between the sherry casks and the bourbon casks. There is straw, hay, sawdust and red fruits. Hint of coffee.
    • Taste
      86 86
      Sweet, little hint of sour. Sawdust and little honey. After a while clear sherry notes show up.
    • Finish
      82 82
      Medium length. A tad bitter if you ask me. Sawdust and some sweetness from the sherry cast.

  7. JNuyts scored this whisky 85 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      84 84
    • Taste
      86 86
    • Finish
      86 86

  8. Dionysus scored this whisky 82 points Expert Senior

    Very typical highland dram.
    Not bad at all but i was expecting just a little bit more from an 18 year old.
    • Nose
      84 84
    • Taste
      82 82
    • Finish
      79 79

  9. P.K.S scored this whisky 85 points Expert Junior

    amazing red drapes so sweet amazing glass ! mild flaver this is amazing. From the 12,15,18 the one i liked best whas 15,18,12

  10. Hvdree scored this whisky 86 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      85 85
    • Taste
      86 86
    • Finish
      86 86

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