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| Hello, that is one among our (virtually) each day tastings. Santé! |
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November 1, 2024
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WF’s Little Duos, at present Balblair indie vs. official
Balblair, the homeland of fruit. A distillery we have all the time been very keen on, although it’s grow to be a bit extra low-key lately, not less than right here at WF Towers. I suppose it’s fairly a problem to maintain the curiosity of whisky lovers if you’re surrounded by so many more moderen, flashier, pushier contenders…
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Re-char casks at Balblair (WF Archive, 2006) |
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Balblair 11 yo 2012/2024 (52%, Asta Morris, cask #AM143, 250 bottles) 
Des grenouilles, toujours des grenouilles. Frogs, all the time frogs. Color: gentle gold. Nostril: effectively now, they will need to have made a mix-up, bottling late-harvest Riesling as a substitute of a younger Balblair. However no hurt completed, everybody slips up. With water: ah, the malt returns, together with apple tarte, pears poached in Sauternes, ripe mirabelles… A gorgeous nostril, with a fruity profile that is daring but well-balanced. And sure, there are notes of late-harvest Riesling. Mouth (neat): it is like rose liqueur combined with lychee syrup, rounded off with apple and papaya juice. So, extra Gewurz than Riesling ultimately. With water: sufficient jesting, it is merely wonderful, now leaning into small stone fruits—cherries, plums, damsons… End: pretty lengthy, livelier, and this time bringing citrus to the fore. Let’s ditch a budget wine comparisons. Feedback: ultimately, it was much less exuberant than anticipated, and fortunately not overpowered by vanilla. A really, superb younger indie Balblair—maybe finest paired with a plate of frog legs (wait, what?).
SGP:651 – 87 factors. |
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P.S.: I like frogs/grenouilles. I keep in mind that after I spent a while in New York, ‘grenouille’ was one of many few phrases that our American mates who fancied themselves as French audio system – which they have been – might by no means fairly pronounce accurately. Strive [g??nuj], ‘gre-nouy’. Enjoyable instances, glad instances.
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Balblair 16 yo 2007/2024 (55.7%, OB for LMDW Foundations, first fill bourbon barrels, cask #507, 210 bottles)
This yr, La Maison du Whisky has actually stepped issues up as soon as extra, transferring to a 12-cylinder, if you’ll. Color: pale gold. Nostril: this can be a extra basic Balblair, beginning off with acacia honey, ripe apricot, and juicy pear, alongside custard, completely ripe banana, and even a touch of mango, although in wise quantities. There’s additionally a contact of stewed rhubarb, which provides a pleasant little twist. One may virtually need to point out Riesling once more, although this time it might be a rounder, sweeter German one. With water: barley syrup makes an look, together with a little bit of orange squash and even a faint suggestion of Berocca. Mouth (neat): the basic fruit salad—pear, kiwi, banana, apple—all gently spiced with a splash of white pepper. With water: nonetheless wonderful, very fruity, however now balanced by natural teas, reminiscent of chamomile, linden, and even a contact of thyme and rosemary. End: medium in size, a bit easier, with apple compote and a dusting of cinnamon. Feedback: a wonderfully basic fruity dram.
SGP:651 – 86 factors. |
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