Another one from the lovely series of single casks bottled for The Whisky Barrel, this time this is a 10-year-old Balblair, from a first fill Oloroso sherry hogshead. A young Balblair in sherry, please!
Balblair 10 yo 2009/2019 / Originals {TWB} , 59.4% , £50
Nose: Nice sherry, not too sweet, but certainly quite winey, earthy, with ample wood spices – some Cinnamon up front, a hint of turmeric and vegetal notes. it also possesses some honeyed sweetness, a nice twist.
Palate: Chilly spiciness upfront with wood spices, citrus peel (mostly oranges), black tea, tobacco? and a touch of salt, quite bitter with orange marmalade on burnt toast. Not your average Balblair, for sure.
Finish: Quite bitter, with more marmalade and bitter strong tea.
Conclusion: Not the Balblair I was expecting surely! It’s 180 degrees different than the distillery style I like so much, but that’s the fun of it! It’s very special in that regard, I’d never guess Balblair had I been given this blind. No way. HA! different, and refreshing. quite challenging.