Whiskybase

Balblair 18-year-old

Overall rating
85.78/100
votes
140
Whiskybase ID
WB128493
Category
Single Malt
Distillery
Bottler
Distillery Bottling
Bottled
26.11.2019
Stated Age
18 years old
Strength
46.0 % Vol.
Size
700 ml 700 ml 750 ml
Bottle code
L197075 R19/5129
Barcode
5010509881852
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 Whiskybase Shop
Balblair 18-year-old
Photo by Whiskybase Shop
Balblair 18-year-old
Photo by Ana_tol
Balblair 18-year-old
Photo by whic

Average value

€ 131.22

Found 40 online shops. Lowest price:

€ 107.50
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140 × member ratings

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Whisky Reviews for Balblair 18-year-old

43 users have left a review for this whisky and scored it an average of 85.78 points

  1. Cask1988 did not rate this whisky Connoisseur

    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!

  2. 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.

  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. 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.

  5. Hvdree scored this whisky 86 points Connoisseur

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

  6. MrDvorak scored this whisky 88 points Expert Senior

    RATING: 88pts – |87 – 89 (B+) → Great| — Always nice to have a bottle of this.
    • Nose
      87 87
      The nose is complex and develops into black raisins, oily prunes, milk chocolate, burnt sugar and pastries.
    • Taste
      89 89
      The taste is sour and sweet, silky and complex with touches of chocolate, caramel and beautiful dark fruits.
    • Finish
      88 88
      The finish is long and layered with nuances of milk chocolate, cacao powder, prunes and brown raisins.

  7. 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

  8. Robinzon25 scored this whisky 85 points Expert Senior

    Smooth commercial licked whisky. I want to find fault with something, but there is nothing!
    • Nose
      Deep, multifaceted, prunes, walnuts, creme brulee, melted toffee and wood chips heated in the sun are felt.
    • Taste
      Sweet and sour berries, dried fruits, nuts, cocoa, tannins.
    • Finish
      Quite long and measured. First, berry sourness comes through, then dried fruits with nuts. At the end, cocoa, milk chocolate, some spices and oak tones appear.

  9. SebStar scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      86 86
    • Taste
      87 87
    • Finish
      89 89

  10. FeydRautha scored this whisky 85 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      83 83
    • Taste
      86 86
    • Finish
      85 85

  11. zzqfyl scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      88 88
    • Taste
      87 87
    • Finish
      87 87

  12. JBKwb scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      88 88
    • Taste
      87 87
    • Finish
      86 86

  13. hlz30 scored this whisky 85 points Expert Senior

    I was about to say that the item is overpriced, but then I realise it is 2022 already...
    • Nose
      86 86
      Evidently sweet. Chocolaty, sweet orange, ripen red apple, soft spices, mildly waxy
    • Taste
      87 87
      Soft arrival with medium to thin body and impressive sweetness (but interestingly it was rather bland on my first night of tasting).. Rather complex. Slightly tannic, nutty, lightly popcorn, pleasantly meaty, evident bitterness balancing the sweetness. Tongue-spreading lemony acidity.
    • Finish
      83 83
      Woody, biscuity, drying, apricot, dried hay. Not being impressive and long-lasting.

  14. Matthias80 scored this whisky 77 points Expert Senior

    Tasted in 2019 in Pfäffikon together with the 12 and 15.
    Here the annoying elements are already subsiding, but unfortunately the 18 year old doesn't really want to inspire either.
    • Nose
      Coconut, vanilla. There is also something nutty, maybe almonds
    • Taste
      Spicy, almost earthy notes but sweet, a somewhat idiosyncratic combination, milder than the two younger ones, roasted aromas also appear, unfortunately the soapy one is not completely gone.
    • Finish
      Especially nutty

  15. MarcinCh scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    Dark amber color. There is some oilyness, but less than 12 YO and 15 YO Balblair.
    • Nose
      89 89
      Surprisingly fresh nose. Fresh fruit. Citrus. Menthol rivets, interesting. A bit like American rye whisky. Spices. Caramel. Flowers. A trace of chocolate on the background. Sweet powdery. Bananas. Very complex and comprehensive. Peaches. Maybe cloves.
    • Taste
      87 87
      Sweet. Fresh fruit. Flowers. Spices. Ginger. Citrus. Apples. A little chocolate rivet appears in the background. Dessert chocolate. Cocoa.
    • Finish
      86 86
      Dessert chocolate. Cocoa. Maybe roasted caramel. A pinch of spices. Later traces of flowers. Medium-length finish.

  16. lincolnimp scored this whisky 86 points Connoisseur

    Already tasted thus one recently from a bottle just opened , this time the score is a little better.
    no notes tasted at a show
    • Nose
      86 86
    • Taste
      86 86
    • Finish
      85 85

  17. lincolnimp scored this whisky 86 points Connoisseur

    This would be fine if it cost £40-£50 but at anywhere between £100-£120 this is a poor quality taste experience, though nowhere near the absurdly priced 25 year OB which is an affront to anyone who knows the value of whisky.
    • Nose
      84 84
      This has a quite a strong dry grass note followed, stewed apple mixed with pear, apricot and a little orange zest.
      The grassy note fades leaving the fruit compote behind which reminds me of Heinz baby food.
    • Taste
      84 84
      This is certainly strong enough at 46%, there is honey, white pepper, a little faint ginger spice with plum and apple.
    • Finish
      83 83
      Finish is ok, with a lingering spice note

  18. SwiftyMcVeigh scored this whisky 86 points Expert Senior

    Solid whisky with a clear sherry influence. However, I would not spend more than 100 € on it.
    • Nose
      87 87
      At the beginning a lot of wood, if you give the whisky about 20 minutes in the glass, this takes a back seat. Then a lot of fruit (orange, apricot), vanilla, sherry. Raisins. Dark chocolate.
    • Taste
      86 86
      Smooth start. Orange, vanilla, raisins. Cocoa. Then getting hotter: white pepper and ginger. Oak seasoning.
    • Finish
      86 86
      Medium length. Fading fruit notes. Ginger. Dark chocolate.

  19. RJKrueger scored this whisky 88 points Expert Senior

    A balanced and beautiful malt. I really liked it.
    • Nose
      89 89
      Very nice orange note, plus sherry, vanilla, nut - a nice complexity that you can deal with for a while.
    • Taste
      88 88
      Soft and oily at the start; balanced spice and sherry notes; on the palate there is still a nice pepperiness that carries over into the finish.
    • Finish
      86 86
      In the finish, the spice shifts into the foreground compared to the sherry notes; in the further course it becomes a bit thin, therefore light prints.

  20. MLE scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      87 87
    • Taste
      87 87
    • Finish
      86 86

  21. ezioaudit scored this whisky 86 points Connoisseur

  22. Beaty-Tang scored this whisky 89 points Member Senior

    First nose: delicious! Dark, musty, old, complex, fruity, somewhat flowery, round. Somehow a bit of everything. Delicious! In the finish (similar to the 15-year-old) clearly oak - you have to like that. As for me, I like it. A little citrus fruit now and then shines through on the nose, which refreshes the whisky a bit. What else is there to say? Did I already mention "delicious"? Forever long finish. But even here: 100 € is somehow not worth it ...

  23. spigray scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    a good dram, but way too expensive. Sorry Balblair, I won´t buy a bottle at more than 100 Euros for an 18 year old.
    • Nose
      86 86
      less fruity than the 15 yo, with a thin layer of sherry, the 3 years only make a little difference in depth. Quite some malt, a bit of heather honey, hints of oranges. After 5 minutes the fruitiness partially comes back. A slightly grassy and herbal edge.
    • Taste
      88 88
      banana, honey, malt, nuts. creamy texture, nicely balanced. Much better than the nose suggested.
    • Finish
      87 87
      Long, clean, soft and warm.

  24. DerDennis! scored this whisky 88 points Specialist

    Delicious, tasty, anything but boring. However, I don't find it very complex, but appropriate for its age. He doesn't have to hide from his peers.
    • Nose
      Chocolate, malt, pickled dark fruits, raisins, plums, nutmeg, grated lemon peel, white pepper, ginger, old kitchen cupboard, eucalyptus
    • Taste
      oily, sweet wood, dark fruits, raisins, chocolate, almonds, white pepper, eucalyptus, very pleasant tannins, lemon peel, spicy
    • Finish
      long, pickled raisins, eucalyptus, tannins

  25. Tangtang_WhiskyYoda scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    nice standard without corners and edges. Very tasty. Nice balance of bourbon and sherry barrel aging.
    • Nose
      dark fruits, plums, raisins, very light floral notes, a bit sweet with vanilla, oak aromas, beautiful soft balanced nose
    • Taste
      beautiful soft fruity start. Sweet with vanilla, dark fruits, spicy oak, very slightly bitter
    • Finish
      Nice aromatic finish, lots of fruit, a bit sweet and also a bit bitter and slightly sour. Nice mouthfeel

  26. Ruisdael scored this whisky 85 points Expert Senior

    What a very mediocre whisky for a lot of money.
    Nose: 86/100 taste 84/100 aftertaste 85/100. 46% is also too light. Unfortunately. So long in the barrel with this shaky result. Maybe mothball again.

  27. DrunkDude scored this whisky 86 points Expert Senior

  28. rpvdwel scored this whisky 84 points Connoisseur

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

  29. JNuyts scored this whisky 85 points Connoisseur

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

  30. 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

  31. P.K.S scored this whisky 85 points Expert Senior

    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

  32. Andytka3 scored this whisky 86 points Connoisseur

    N- Begin with liquorice and herbaceous, oilmen, rebellious oak oozing thru in a good way to pronounce a firm precense. Chocolate and espresso, naturally robust. Treacle, moist tobacco and wild flower. All going well but seems to drop a notch after breath. (88/22)

    P- Wee tight, with water drawing out the juicy oak, sweet spices and grilled buttery apricot. (87/21)

    F- Long, ultra smooth and velvet, hints leather with treacle coated dried fruits, icing sugar and fine oak nuance linger. (89/22)

    B/B- 87/21

    Weighted Rate- 86pt

    Cr-1, Fr-1, Fl-2, Pt-0, Ft-0, Sp-0, Wd-3, Wn-2, Sc-1
    — at The Whisky Bar, Kuala Lumpur.
    • Nose
      N- Begin with liquorice and herbaceous, oilmen, rebellious oak oozing thru in a good way to pronounce a firm precense. Chocolate and espresso, naturally robust. Treacle, moist tobacco and wild flower. All going well but seems to drop a notch after breath. (88/22)
    • Taste
      P- Wee tight, with water drawing out the juicy oak, sweet spices and grilled buttery apricot. (87/21)
    • Finish
      F- Long, ultra smooth and velvet, hints leather with treacle coated dried fruits, icing sugar and fine oak nuance linger. (89/22)

      B/B- 87/21

      Weighted Rate- 86pt

      Cr-1, Fr-1, Fl-2, Pt-0, Ft-0, Sp-0, Wd-3, Wn-2, Sc-1
      — at The Whisky Bar, Kuala Lumpur.

  33. YosemiteSam scored this whisky 85 points Expert Senior

    This Balblair offers too little for the high price
    • Nose
      86 86
      Aromas of leather, toffee, honey and stewed pears
    • Taste
      84 84
      Apricots, oak and vanilla, sweet, fruit, wood and herbs
    • Finish
      85 85
      A medium aftertaste, spices and raisins. The price is too high.

  34. Gaija scored this whisky 88 points Expert Senior

    [Quick festival note] Clearly not as good as the sherried 1990's used to be for the same price, but still a very good whisky all in all. Well, granted, I'm a Balblair stan ...
    • Nose
      Pretty little fresh thing. It needs a bit of time but it gets incredibly citrusy with a lot of blood orange most of all. Sweet spices, light wood glue, gluhwein (but not sweet).
    • Taste
      Nice, soft, varnished, estery, with maraschino cherries, oranges, wood glue and a feeling of freshness that I always love in Balblair.
    • Finish
      Orange juice and fallen leaves.

  35. alex..w..fan scored this whisky 83 points Connoisseur

    20 21 21 21 83

  36. MrYens scored this whisky 83 points Expert Senior

  37. ffmdino did not rate this whisky Connoisseur

    I do not like it that much
    the 15th is better; in this dominate the oak notes and the associated spice too much
    • Nose
      Sherry, very sweet (and you might think even stronger), slightly dark caramel, slightly vanilla, dark, slightly musty / musty, shortbread, light wood (tart and spicy) and gets stronger,
      later cereals, biscuits so towards bisquit, brown and floury apple
      from 1920 Blendersglas: the sweetness is full !!, spicy, even more vanilla !!, red berries (forest berry mix), raisins is stronger, lemons come at the end
    • Taste
      soft and silky on the palate
      Oak with spice is more, slightly raisins, milk chocolate, clear sherry, wild berries, slightly floury apple, dark caramel comes, first sweet and then goes into the bitter
    • Finish
      medium to long
      Sherry, roasted aromas (stronger than 15s), espresso or old and salty coffee, oak (this becomes dominant)

  38. Wolv scored this whisky 82 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      84 84
    • Taste
      83 83
    • Finish
      80 80

  39. galg33 scored this whisky 87 points Member Senior

    Nose: Quite a different profile than the 17 year old with more fruit (pear, toffee’d apples), spices, leather and a leafy note as well, not as sweet as it’s younger sibling, and certainly not as sweet/ sherried.

    Palate: Spicy up front, then the orchard fruit kick in, with apricot and nectarine, as well as vanilla, maybe crème brulé, and toffee, sweeter and spicier than the nose suggested, very balanced and very more-ish, with the dried fruit arriving only very late.

    Finish: Cinnamon , clove and sultanas (Xmas cake anyone?)

    Bottom line: Lovely stuff. A notch up from the 15, harmonious and easy drinking whisky, for a nice autumn / winter day, or with a nice chocolate desert, good balance, and well made, the best of the bunch so for , for me. (looking fwd to trying the 25..)

  40. Bam scored this whisky 84 points Expert Senior

    Powerful, heavy whisky, which is characterized by dark oak and sherry aromas, but shows little fruit but pleases with dry and oaky spicy flavors.
    • Nose
      Red apples, apricot and raisins. Brown sugar and dark caramel. Fresh leather and shoe polish, slightly musty. Strong oak flavor and always some cinnamon and vanilla.
    • Taste
      Strong onset, dry mouthfeel. Again the red apples, and apricot. Oak spice, slightly peppery. Dark nougat and hazelnuts. Cocoa powder. A little vanilla.
    • Finish
      Medium long, dominated by oak and dark notes. Dark caramel. Astringent.

  41. Joint86 scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      85 85
    • Taste
      87 87
    • Finish
      88 88

  42. Dre73 scored this whisky 86 points Connoisseur

    Tasted this on the same time as the 15yo, and they're quite similar. Only difference is that the 15yo is more on solely peach, where the 18yo has some more chocolate influence besides the peach.
    In fullness and finish it's comparable though.
    • Nose
      85 85
      Fruity, peach, after some while clearly some chocolate. Prunes as well.
    • Taste
      86 86
      Very soft and smooth, milk chcocolate, some honey sweetness, peach, some orange as well.
      Although smooth and soft, it's definately not thin.
    • Finish
      86 86
      Still very soft and smooth but full of taste. Chocolate again and some peach, and some bitterness underneath. That bitterness disappears after some while, long finish, with a lot of sweetness, peach and milkchocolate.

  43. Stanzeflasche scored this whisky 86 points Expert Senior

    Intense vanilla, toffee, white fruits, plum, Italian grapes, with a little banana, cereals, liquid honey. It is very rich. On the palate, exotic fruits, mango, citrus fruits, plum, grapefruit, papaya, passion fruit. A lemon zest An ounce of charcoal and wood to structure it all. Varnish. Very long finish, on cola, nuts, peanuts, and some discreet spices. Nutmeg, cloves. Macadamia nuts, cocoa powder.

    https://ilikesky2020.blogspot.com/2020/12/balblair-18-yo.html
    • Nose
      87 87
    • Taste
      85 85
    • Finish
      86 86

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