Ballantine's Finest Whisky - Master of Malt Ballantines Finest was Jim Murray's No Age Statement Blend of the Year with a whopping 96 points! Blended Scotch Whisky. BALLOTIN WHISKEY. Very nice, light, some citrus in there. As that flavor fades a bit, you can see some of the more traditional blended whisky notes making an appearance, specifically some peat smoke on the finish that lasts into the aftertaste. Learn More{{/message}}. This…, I picked up this 1950s bottling of Ballantine's Finest at the last LCBO/Waddington's spirits auction. Despite enjoying it much more now, I still consider it to be unbalanced. whisky review 337 - Introducing Three Dead Distilleries. These are carefully selected from 4 different iconic Scottish regions.” I found this little 200 ML bottle of 1980s Ballantine’s sitting on a shelf here in Los Angeles. Business boomed throughout the latter part of the 20th century, with the Ballantine’s brand being one of the most recognized whiskey labels in Europe in the 1980’s and the number one whiskey in Korea for the same time period. Enjoy a Whisky that's stayed true to its original recipe since 1910. There’s also a plastic gasket that fits into the top sealing the bottle better than usual. The business was further sold to the Canadian distilling company Hiram Walker Gooderham & Worts in 1937 (of Canadian Club fame), who purchased the Miltonduff and Glenburgie Distilleries as well as a building a new facility in Dumbarton to provide the spirit that went into their products. The original flavor, complexity and refinement comes from more than 50 single malt flavors. By appointment to their late majesties King George III. This reminds me of an old-school, white-tablecloth steakhouse from the 1960’s. The heritage of Ballantine’s Scotch Whisky can be traced back to 1827 when George Ballantine set up a small grocery store in Edinburgh supplying a range of whiskies to his clients. Others say it's the single malt. Found This Irish Pub while leaving the nearby Heurich House museum tour. Thirty-One Whiskey is a blog devoted to the appreciation of good whiskey, fine cigars, and the value of a hard day’s work in the wood shop. Liquid…, Find where to buy Ballantines whiskies online, Ballantines Ballantine's Finest / Bot.1950s. "Find the best price for Ballantines Scotch Whisky"Get prices, Ballantines' average rating is 80/100 from 34 reviews and 119 ratings. Love it or hate it, when February comes around there’s no escaping Valentine’s Day. The business continued to be profitable, even despite George’s retirement in 1881 and death in 1891. Ballantine’s puts the “blended” into blended scotch, combining both malt and grain whiskeys made at a handful of different distilleries. Although many people didn't…, This whisky was another weeknight surprise session on the same night I tasted Glendronach 8A few weeks back I got a taste of Ballantyne's 17 & it was a pretty great dram (I didn't take any notes). Chill filtered. King George IV, King William IV. An indulgent drink for celebrating a special occasion. It’s a relic of another age, but one that deserves at least a try. Eventually George’s son sold the business in 1919 to Barclay and McKinlay, who used the brand name to market their wider selection of blended whiskey. Worthy of all the awards and praise, this is a very well balanced whisky with gentle notes of smoke and wood spice wrapped in a velvety sherry influenced spirit. Minimally peated. It’s almost closer to an American bourbon. As for underrating it, do note that my original score of 74 is just about on mark with the current average ratings for this whisky … What began merely as a grocery store dealing and supplying whisky to their patrons, grew exponentially to become one of the most formidable family run businesses in Scotland. Specifically, the white label here on the dark bottle looks like a waiter’s white coat, and consequently feels about as approachable as a porcupine to younger, millennial drinkers. Learn More{{/message}}, {{#message}}{{{message}}}{{/message}}{{^message}}It appears your submission was successful. We give you: Ballantine’s The Miltonduff Single Malt Scotch Whisky, aged 15 years. Wednesday, 6 February 2013. whisky review 338 - Rosebank 14yo Signatory . Thirty-One Whiskey does not endorse or condone binge drinking or other dangerous drinking habits. Cigars, whiskey, airplanes, woodworking, etc. Where can I read Ballantines reviews online? In 1827, George Ballantine didn’t want to follow in his farming father’s footsteps so instead he opened a small grocery store in Edinburgh. Ballantines Finest. The server responded with {{status_text}} (code {{status_code}}). REVIEWS. The standard bottling in the Ballantines range, the Ballantines Finest, with whisky aged 4 to 8 years old in here, i really enjoyed some … The packaging is unique (if a bit stuffy) and the pour spout design is interesting. Is Ballantines smoky? 12 years. … And in spite of that (or perhaps because of it?) A blend of the finest old scotch whiskies. I’ve probably tasted Ballantine’s Finest dozens of times, and I’ve always found it pleasant, but I’ve never really paid close attention to it. Intense and rich with a smooth spice. There’s a faux wax seal at the bottom, and at the top, an image of the heraldic arms that were granted to the company in 1938. This makes Ballantine’s a particularly well-suited drink to be enjoyed neat J&B® Blended Scotch Whisky. Miltonduff is said to be the foundation of the Ballantine's blend, and has now been given its own spotlight. Ballantine’s has core range that consists of a really great range of expressions. For £15 it's a winner! Rare. What’s the Difference Between Whiskey, Bourbon, Scotch, and Rye? Color: amber with the addition of an artificial caramel Please contact the developer of this form processor to improve this message. By appointment to her majesty the queen wine merchants Justerini & Brooks Ltd. St. James's Street, London, England. Produced in Dumbarton Scotland for Pernod Ricard. Even though the server responded OK, it is possible the submission was not processed. July 15, 2020 Nick Leghorn Whisky Review: Ballantine’s Finest Blended Scotch Whisky We’re continuing our journey into the popular whisky of the mid-20th century, and along the way we’ve found that some brands have tried to modernize their branding and image, appealing to the latest generation of drinkers. Great looking bar with a casual and very comfortable atmosphere. Let our expert tasters be your guide through a deep archive of over 4,500 whisky reviews. Enjoyed in 100 countries around the world, according to Ballantine’s finest blended scotch whiskey reviews, this blend of scotch whisky is very balanced, superb and very decent for a scotch. Overall it’s a smooth, sweet, and delicious without any bitterness or unpleasantness. What’s really interesting to me is the cap. As a scotch whisky, we know that 100% of this product was distilled in Scotland and matured on-site for no less than three years. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Your email address will not be published. In this case, though, the ice actually brings out those malicious elements. Ballantine’s 12. There’s not a whole lot of information about the source of this whisky, which is common for blended scotch such as this. St. James's Street, London SW1. Not worth the current price, but a decent drink. Chivas Regal, 12 YO, 40% ABV, 750 ml, $30. An episode of The Whisk(e)y Vault hosted at Whisky Marketing School in Austin, TX. The vanilla and brown sugar flavors seem to be the biggest and boldest in the room, giving it an immediate sweet and delicious flavor that you’d expect from something American rather than something from the old country. There’s a screw-on top here that’s common to other lower shelf whiskey, but it’s pretty complex. Pending.... Edited February 11, 2013 by Jono Your email address will not be published. Ballantine’s remains a competitive brand, the second most popular blended scotch whisky in worldwide sales behind Diageo’s Johnnie Walker. Available in. The glass is tinted a very deep burgundy color, meaning there’s almost no way you can see how much liquid is in the bottle — much less the color of that liquid. The Whiskey Wash. Drinkhacker. I’ve probably tasted Ballantine’s Finest dozens of times, and I’ve always found it pleasant, but I’ve never really paid close attention to it. Further obscuring is the white waiter’s coat label, sporting some lettering that looks like it’s straight off an engraved invitation. This appears to have been produced during the 1970s for the Italian market. The rich, spiced flavor owes itself to the high proportion of whiskies matured in European Oak Casks. This dram is packed with flavour and opens with a nose of sweet caramel, vanilla and wooded notes. It is the second biggest-selling Scotch in the world after Johnnie Walker – albeit with less than half the sales volume of its competitor – and is traditionally very strong in southern European and Asian markets. Is Ballantines peaty? I don't know who's right, but IMHO Ballantine's 17 is one of my favourite blends for my palate…, This bottle has been opened for over 7 months. True to George Ballantine’s vision of creating whisky of the highest quality, Ballantine’s unique, elegant style is balanced and smooth, containing a complex blend of single malts and grain whiskies from the four renowned whisky regions of Scotland – Speyside, Highlands, Islay and the Lowlands. Hailing from an ‘undiscovered distillery’ in the Speyside region, it normally serves as the foundation single malt for Ballantine’s famous blend but is now being given the chance to stand tall on its own in Ballantine’s first ever single malt series. At present, I would say my rating for Ballantine's Finest would be more like 80 than the 74 from this review. If you think you may have an alcohol problem please contact the SAMHSA national helpline to get assistance. The Whiskey Reviewer. “Ballantine’s Finest is the oldest recipe in the current range, created in 1910 by the Ballantine’s family. Blended from more than 50 single malts (with particular emphasis on Miltonduff and Glenburgie) as well as 4 single grain whiskies. Ballantine’s doesn’t play that game, keeping with its distinctive mid-century look and feel despite the changing times around it. RECENT. I've tasted whiskey twice as expensive as this that I would reject in its stead. There are more than 40 malts and grains in this blend. View all products by Ballantine's California Residents: Click here for Proposition 65 WARNING I can see why this is one of those whiskies that has stood the test of time… but I can also see why its not as popular with younger whisky drinkers. Ballotin Chocolate Cherry Cream. But with the international downturn in whiskey sales at the end of the century, the massive Dumbarton facility was mothballed and the company eventually sold to the French spirits company Pernod Ricard in 2005. Now, Ballantine's proposes the most comprehensive range of quality aged blended Scotch whiskies available anywhere in the world, and you’ll find it across the globe. they seem to be doing just fine. This is a bit strange, since usually with the addition of some ice any bitterness or unpleasantness disappears. I was…. Overall Rating: 3/5A blast from the past that’s worth a look. With the addition of a little bit of ice, things seem to take a bit of a turn for the worse. Tasted as part of the Ballantines 12 Google Hangout, this cracker of a young blended whisky is better than many at double the price. Ballantine’s 12. Plenty of table seating. Sunday, 10 February 2013. whisky review 339 - Brora 23 yo Signatory 46% . Learn how your comment data is processed. View BALLOTIN LOCATOR in a full screen map. The nose is soft and sweet with an unmistakable smoky edge.…, Some say the art of blending achieves the pinnacle of whisky perfection. Tasting Note by The Chaps at Master of Malt Nose: Floral notes, peach, creamy sweets, Vanilla and toasted coconut, oak spice, dried fruit. Slightly sweet with a touch of vanilla Perfect for mixing to start the night The first ever Ballantine’s recipe Start the night with a Whisky that's stayed true to it's original recipe since 1910. Today we talk about Ballantine's Blended Scotch from Pernod Ricard. The scotch has a light gold color, and has a lovely glint on ice. 40% ABV. Those sweeter, more delicious notes seem to have dropped out of the whisky and all that’s left is the peaty, smoky elements. Great Drams whisky reviews aim to give a balanced opinion on whiskies old and new from an avid whisky enthusiast. For round up posts, see posts like my top 10 best whiskies for under £40, my top 5 best rye whiskies or my top 5 scotch whiskies for under £100.For individual reviews of some interesting varieties, by all means, dive in. Review: Ballantine’s Finest Blended Scotch Whisky 72.5/100 a review by Chip Dykstra Published June 17, 2014. Ballantines is considerably smoother than both, its very slightly smoky but above all the rich, caramel experience is dangerously moorish as it's smooth texture trickles over the back of your tongue. The thread pitch on the cap is shallower than you’d expect, meaning you’re going to be twisting it longer but it’s also going to seal more completely. 3. Joshua Vides reinterprets the world of Scotch whisky to redesign Ballantine’s iconic bottle, a series of pop-up bars and a limited-edition briefcase in a nod to the brand’s prohibition era past. Beyond that, there might be some honey and some charred oak in the background, but it’s not nearly as prevalent as in other blended scotches. I’m getting a good bit of vanilla combined with some sweet caramel, but there’s also a good bit of alcohol burn coming through, which I don’t always get in a whiskey of this proof. As was common with Scottish whiskey merchants, he started creating his own house blends and roped his second son into helping with the new venture, dubbing it “George Ballantine and Son Ltd.”. Nothing that will lure me away from single malt. Ballantine’s acts like an American bourbon when taken neat, but the peat flavors come back with a vengeance when you add some ice cubes. In fact, I might almost say that there’s some added bitterness in the glass that wasn’t there before. That impression is even stronger taking a sip, so strong that I actually needed to re-read the label to make sure I didn’t grab a bourbon instead. Use the filters above to search for reviews. There’s some interesting things going on here, and not always for the better. Online orders available in select regions. This is probably because of its “bottom shelf” price. It proved relatively successfully, and he gave control of the original store to his son in 1865 when he went to open a larger version in Glasgow. Please contact the developer of this form processor to improve this message. The influence of these five master blenders has made Ballantine's what it is today, Europe's No.1 Scotch whisky and also No.2 worldwide (*IWSR volume 2015). The label says this was bottled on the 16th February 2015. {{#message}}{{{message}}}{{/message}}{{^message}}Your submission failed. Ballantine's Day. Taking a closer look at their Ballantine’s 17 Year Old, we can see just why they are so popular. There’s a lot of traditional whiskey notes in the aroma. Required fields are marked *. More information at www.burkeandblais.com, Ballantine's Finest Blended Scotch Whisky. All rights reserved. Service was very Click here to check out similar spirits we have reviewed. That said, which specific distilleries are used are not disclosed so we don’t specifically know the provenance of the spirit. Ballantine’s Finest is a remarkably smooth drink, with the Speyside whiskies from Miltonduff and Glenburgie lending it a rich, and sweet flavour profile. It is regarded as the taste to satisfy a modern style. We’re continuing our journey into the popular whisky of the mid-20th century, and along the way we’ve found that some brands have tried to modernize their branding and image, appealing to the latest generation of drinkers. In was in this new store where he started focusing more heavily on the wine and spirits trade. It was bottled in 1972 and is minimum 17 years old, so this golden auldie contains whisky distilled in the Fifties of last century. Their flavor profile is based off of a combination of 50 single malts and 4 single grains most notably Miltonduff and Glenburgie.…, Okay, let me start by saying that this is quite old stuff. Everything that goes into a bottle of Ballantine’s has been aged for at least three years, and the whiskey is bottled at 40% alcohol. Thirty-One Whiskey is a website owned and operated by Burke & Blais, LLC. This one was matured for 15 years in American oak casks until it was bottled by Ballantine's. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. 1. 17 States & counting. Being a blended whisky with an age statement means that every whisky in this 1950s Ballantine’s 30 Years has been aged for a minimum of 30 years and, increasingly so, that’s no easy task. The bottle is transparent, but just barely. This is probably because of its “bottom shelf” price. I bought it because I wanted a whisky to drink in the summer and it was highly rated, named whisky of the year by Jim Murray. Right n ext to Johnnie Walker Black Label, Ballantine’s 12 is probably one of the most popular twelve-year-old scotch whisky in worldwide.Let’s see how it tastes. The Whisky Advocate Buying Guide is a powerful tool for learning, discovery, and making the most of your whisky buying budget. An old release of Ballantine's Finest blended Scotch whisky in a large 2 litre bottle. But we’ve never been one to turn down a good excuse to shake up a whisky cocktail, so we say: if you can’t beat them, let’s get the whisky pouring and join them. Ballantine's Finest blended scotch is their flagship and introductory brand that does not carry an age statement but contains whisky aged at least 3 years or more. George Ballantine and Sons began as a grocery store in 1827 that quickly moved to wine and spirits. Over 4,500 Whisky Ratings. Slightly sweet with a touch of vanilla - perfect for mixing to start the night. For its price, customers have reported that it is one of best blended scotch whisky they have tasted. Justerini & Brooks. Ballantine's Finest. Great value for money given the quality of this whisky. Is Ballantines classed as whisky or a whiskey. A stunning 17 year old blended Scotch from Ballantine's. Which is neat, and I appreciate the extra touch… but since brown spirits don’t really need to be stored in any sort of air-tight fashion, it feels like a case of over-engineering for not much benefit. What is the average rating for Ballantines? At least, I think it's from the 1950s as the auction website is terrible and doesn't give any info…, I usually don't drink cheap blends, in afraid of what I brought would go to the toilet, but I found Ballatine's Finest seemed to be a better cheap blend among other big brands and Mr. Jim Murray gave it…, After the Ballantines 1965, 1985 and 2008 I will now try a more recent bottling. Ballantine's is a brand of blended Scotch whisky produced in Dumbarton, Scotland. Another consistent multiple award winner, Chivas 12 YO … Ballantine’s is the second largest selling Scotch whisky brand worldwide, and the second largest selling Scotch in the entire European continent, truly a colossal feat. Ballantine's Finest Blended Scotch Whisky 750ML is a complex, refined and elegant blended scotch whisky. Nowadays, Ballantine’s is the second largest Scotch whisky brand worldwide. 2. And while it definitely evokes a specific environment of white coated waiters in dark elegant dining rooms, it remains to be seen how younger drinkers will respond to this traditional style. Other lower shelf whiskey, airplanes, woodworking, etc s 17 Year old, can... Click here to check out similar spirits we have reviewed, England to is! 17, 2014 very comfortable atmosphere rating: 3/5A blast from the that., Scotch, and has now been given its own spotlight bottled on the wine spirits. In a large 2 litre bottle bitterness in the glass that wasn ’ t specifically the. Traditional whiskey notes in the current range, created in 1910 by the Ballantine 's litre bottle be.. 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S also a plastic gasket that fits into the top sealing the bottle better usual! This…, I picked up this 1950s bottling of Ballantine 's Finest blended Scotch whisky tasters be your through. For learning, discovery, and has a lovely glint on ice be your Guide through a deep archive over! 'S blend, and delicious without any bitterness or unpleasantness disappears continued to be profitable, even despite ’...