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.

Whisky Review: Ballantine’s Finest Blended Scotch Whisky

As far as the composition of the blend, Jason indicates that the older bottlings have higher malt content, while contemporary blends lean more on grain. I’ll be on lookout for any discrepancies between the two that would indicate as much. The very special whisky spent over half a decade aging in European oak barrels, before being treated to a final maturation in a single Pedro Ximénez-seasoned cask. The Singleton Of Dufftown 54 Year Old is an ultra-rare whisky limited to only 235 bottles, the ultimate collectors’ bottle. Gold at the International Spirits Challenge (2020), Gold at The Scotch Whisky Masters (2020 and 2019)On the nose, these are kissing cousins. In the mouth, however, there are miles between these two. The 1970’s incarnation has body, force, presence, character, personality. It doesn’t entirely come off, but what it has to show for itself is excellent. The 2019 version – by way of contrast – is a wet blanket, a limp noodle, a wallflower, milquetoast, all the associated adjectives.

Ballantine’s Finest Scotch Whisky | Malt - Whisky Reviews Ballantine’s Finest Scotch Whisky | Malt - Whisky Reviews

The Glenlivet distillery in Moray, Scotland has been producing whisky since 1824, so it’s safe to say that the distillery knows what it’s doing. And its 12 Year is widely known as one of the most popular whisky in the world. Despite being produced in Scotland, it remains known as the best-selling malt whisky in the United States. What’s really interesting to me is the cap. There’s a screw-on top here that’s common to other lower shelf whiskey, but it’s pretty complex. 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. There’s also a plastic gasket that fits into the top sealing the bottle better than usual. Gold Award at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition (2018) and Gold Award at the International Spirit Challenge (2017)

Since then l have always drank Ballantine’s if I saw it in a pub; but that’s gone from rare to never. I hesitate to use the descriptor “salty” once more, but that’s what comes through most on both the nose and the palate. This is like a bag of mixed nuts meets a handful of popcorn. I adore the nose but find the palate a bit drying. In total, the delicious notes are memorable and the saline notes are tolerable. As an unexpected curiosity it delivers in fll. I rate it two full steps above average. Score: 7/10 With the addition of a little bit of ice, things seem to take a bit of a turn for the worse. Those sweeter, more delicious notes seem to have dropped out of the whisky and all that’s left is the peaty, smoky elements. In fact, I might almost say that there’s some added bitterness in the glass that wasn’t there before. But you caught on the wrong end. My point was that some original bottlings (at least indistinguishable) can contain undrinkable liquid. Whisky is a spirit made from fermented grain mash. The spirit features various grains, which may be malted, including barley, corn, rye, and wheat. The process for creating whisky has changed little over the past 200 years including the makeup of three core ingredients — water, barley, and yeast.

Ballantine’s GB Products – Ballantine’s GB

After my father passed in 2009 I eventually found myself exploring his modest but eclectic collection of spirits and cordials. Most prominent was a nearly half full 1.5 liter bottle of Ballentine’s that I deducted hailed from the early to mid 70s. I assumed it had to have gone to pot, for no specific informed reason. But when I twisted open the cap I was greeted by a rich fragrance which grew in depth and power as it permeated my inner cavities. Whoa, I said to the bottle. Gesticulating with all my verve, I attempted to explain to him what he had on his hands. This wasn’t just old booze; it was history! I bumbled my way through a brief dissertation on the consolidation of the Scotch whisky industry, and the associated changes to production methods and so forth. With consummate good manners he excused himself, explaining that the paella needed stirring. Knappogue Castle 16 Year Old is an intriguing Irish whiskey with an ever-growing number of notes that seem to appear and disappear each time you sip it. This no-peat, triple-distilled malt whiskey comes aged in both bourbon and sherry barrels, ensuring a well-rounded, slightly sweet aroma and a creamy finish. The Blue Label is the brand’s most prestigious blended whisky, coming in with a higher price point that’s more than worthy of the flavors to follow. Don’t be fooled by the name on the bottle, Monkey Shoulder is a proper whisky and the result of a labor of love by David Stewart, the legendary master blender and malt master for William Grant & Sons distillers.

It is August 2022. I have just opened and drank some Ballantine’s I bought at discount at a Morrisons in Bradford. It’s hard to make an empirical observation about this. “Of course,” the old timers will tell you. “When I was a boy…” However, as I’m fond of noting in this space, the prism of reminiscence distorts our perspective and makes us unreliable narrators. Our personal favorites from days gone by will always have a special emotional resonance that will taint any attempt to evaluate them fairly and objectively.