The third whisky we tasted at the Balblair Facebook live tasting quite long ago was this Balblair 2000, 2nd edition. The 1991 was superb, and this one is slightly younger and quite different, matured for 13 years in American Oak, ex-bourbon casks and five years in first fill Spanish Oak butts, bottled at 46% abv.
Balblair 2000 , 2nd release, 46% abv (£67 MOM)
Nose: lovely oak, and quite a lot of that,which is über coll for such a young whisky (well,it’s under 20). Ripe red apple,vanilla and more dried tropical fruit, with hints of English cake and candied ginger.
Palate : oily and mouth coating, more wood varnish,pepper Clove and allspice,with more exotic fruit,mainly pineapple in sweet syrup,caramelized apple,orange zest,honey and spice.
Finish : sweet creamy vanilla,spiced wood, caramelized apple.
conclusion:
A very good dram indeed, with a very nice wood profile, some fruit, vanilla and spice. The ex-bourbon prole here is king, with only a slight sherry touch, if you’re into this kind of profile, you’re in for a treat. I liked this one very much.