Fred Labosch scored this whisky 79 points 
I was totally surprised by this expecting nothing really.
I tasted this on several occasions H2H with current bottlings of non-peated entry level single malts, and this put them all to shame.
And the best thing about this '80s Ballantines: It's as cheap as chips at online auctions! If it weren't for the (very limited) cardboardiness, the kind of shy nose and the usual short and a little vodka-ish finish that cheaper blended whiskies have, I would buy this by the case. Very drinkable stuff nonetheless.
I tasted this on several occasions H2H with current bottlings of non-peated entry level single malts, and this put them all to shame.
And the best thing about this '80s Ballantines: It's as cheap as chips at online auctions! If it weren't for the (very limited) cardboardiness, the kind of shy nose and the usual short and a little vodka-ish finish that cheaper blended whiskies have, I would buy this by the case. Very drinkable stuff nonetheless.
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cooked quince, golden delicious apples, sweet grains & cereals, yellow jelly beans, stale pineapple juice, physalis, more than just a hint of peat, an earthy note, some cardboard (OBE?!), a little salty caramel, some cheap vanilla ice cream, overall a little restraint but still really nice
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unexpectedly lush, sweet and salty arrival, quince jam, physalis, pineapple, coconut, dandelions, some caffe latte, some caramel, unfortunately a little cardboardiness, some salt, peat, medium to big body with some serious depth, while being about as smooth as hard liquor can get, and a nice balance
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dark toffee, an earthy peat note, a little cardboardy, the grain whisky shows (a little alcoholic; vodka-ish), really short, some almonds?!
