Balblair 1999

My first Balblair, as it is not a distillery that gets much mention in my hood.

I got a chance to try this at an SAQ (Quebec's state run liquor stores) in store tasting last month, I was by myself so took the time to take notes

Nose: Wet driftwood, cornmeal/porridge, Sultanas, vaguely rum like. Toasted almonds, loads of ripe fruit, soaked sponge-cake, then you get furniture polish/paste.

Palate: Juicy as hell (that's really what I wrote), makes you salivate (it has a great texture btw, pretty viscous), melted brown sugar, floral, ripe apple peel, banana's. Very creamy like pudding or creme caramel, citrus zest but there is also a background terpene like note that kicks in maybe from the wood?

Long finish, fruit cup but with a bitterness and body. I think this is a blend of both sherry and bourbon casks. It does exhibit a bit of the former's influence in the nose but the palate is a lot about the fruits and creaminess with that green/terpene thing that prevents it getting to sweet.

An interesting bottling, not so much my favorite style but offers something fairly unique, that opening juicy salvo is worth trying. I cannot attest if this is keeping in the company's taste profile though.

At a 146$ in Québec it is high for a 15 yr old. Would like to try some other vintages.

Find where to buy Balblair whisky