Tasting Balblair at Dr. Jekylls
Tasting Balblair at Dr. Jekylls, one blended malt and four single malts
Just a week ago I was fortunate enough to join a Balblair tasting at Dr. Jekylls Pub in Oslo. It was distillery manager John MacDonald himself who presented the whiskies. The line-up their current range - which was very interesting:
- Blairmohr 8 YO Blended Malt 43 %
- Balblair 2003 1st release 46 %
- Balblair 1999 2nd release 46 %
- Balblair 1990 2nd release 46 %
- Balblair 1983 1st release 46 %
Since I was a bit influenced by a cold I will not be able to give you good and detailed tasting notes. But I would like to share my impression of the whiskies. This time I will only give a total score just to give you a hint of how much I enjoyed each whisky.
Blairmohr 8 YO Blended Malt 43 %
Available in Norway at NOK 379,90 (item number 2664601). It is not available in Sweden.
(80/100): Sweet, fruity and malty on the nose. Pears and apples. Fruity and malty taste. Caramel, salt and spices in the end. Very sweet and probably a nice introduction whisky to a newbee.
Balblair 2003 1st release 46 %
Available in Norway at NOK 690 (item number 884901) and in Sweden at SEK 499 (item number 84281). This whisky is approximately 11 YO and has been matured in second-fill bourbon casks.
(84/100): Fresh and fruity on the nose. Mint, grapes, peanut shell, lemon and spices. Quite a mix actually! Fresh taste with salt, lemon and lime. The finish was salt, oaky and had a touch of chili. A simple and nice whisky.
Balblair 1999 2nd release 46 %
Available in Sweden at SEK 899 (item number 84378). It is not available in Norway. This whisky is approximately 15 YO. It has spent its first 13 years in second-fill bourbon casks and then 2 years in first-fill Oloroso sherry casks.
(86/100): Obvious sherry notes on the nose! A lot of raisins, figs and prunes, and the lovely smell of baked apples. Christmas spices as well. The taste was warm and spicy with salt, coffee and leather. The finish was a bit more dry with licorice, spices, oak and peanut shell. Rich on the palate.
Balblair 1990 2nd release 46 %
Available in Sweden at SEK 1299 (item number 85766). It is not available in Norway. This whisky is 21 YO. It has spent most of its time in ex-bourbon casks and has been given a two years finish in first-fill bourbon casks.
(89/100): Chocolate confectionary and spices! Rich, complex and a bit dry in the end. Really nice with the sherry notes present all the way from start to finish.
Balblair 1983 1st release 46 %
Available in Norway at NOK 2175 (item number 884501) and in Sweden at SEK 2799 (item number 84156). This whisky is 30 YO and has been matured in second-fill bourbon casks.
(88/100): Rich on the nose with vanilla, baked apples and candy. Warm all the way through. Vanilla and lots of fruit on the palate. Salt and nuts in the end. A bit dry.
Wow, what a nice way to taste Balblair!
(I completely forgot to take a picture of the whiskies! Which explains the picture of John MacDonald, Gordon Stevenson (Interbev) and myself.)
- Tone