The oakiness comes a little more to the forefront, achieving a balance with the vanilla and honey. The finish is brief, creamy a bit, the texture was fairly coating in the glass for a blend. This is indeed a good whisky to put on the table when having a nice evening with friend (those you don’t want to break out a single malt for, that is). @Jules I hear you, it doesn't help that there are so many dull or uninspired blends. Rocks, it loses some potency and becomes almost TOO smooth. I have had both and while the "Aged 17 Years" is outstanding whisky, the "17 Years Old" is: a) impossible to find now and b) if not a once-in-a-lifetime experience, very close to it. Nose: Juicy tangerine and smoldering ash. It's like a mellowed down Talisker 10 sans smoke. Finish: quite hot, fruity and a little smoke some very pleasing nuttiness as well. The 2012 batch is made up from 4 grains and 35 malts with the core malts of Glenburgie and Miltonduff as per all the Ballantines range. Blends do have their place … but of course all are not as congenial at the Ballantine’s 12. Shortbread, five-alive citrus. Given the fact that a bottle is less than 30 EUR, this is a great whisky. This rare bottle of 12-year-old Ballantine’s blended Scotch was bottled, we estimate, in the 1980s and originally exported to Italy. 12 years. Tasting Note by The Chaps at Master of Malt Nose: Fruit salad and sherry, mixed nuts. Region: Scotland. His claim would mean literally that Highland Park entire product range (12, 15, 18, etc) or Macallan, Yamazaki, etc … Pallet: Toffee, spicy, more black pepper, some smoke and peat, dried fruits come later, impressive. Palate: Strong opening of fruit and honey, butter and some caramel … sometimes a little spicy. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. For me the Ballantine's 17 is up there with anything in its price range, single malt or otherwise. Compass Box might be the exception although I have never bought, just tasted. Their latest Flaming Heart is prob the best blend I have come across, but then they use only single malts... ie. I first looked at Ballantine’s Finest more than a year ago, where I noted that the whiskey’s popularity in Europe and Asia. As you will notice I was only able to pick up some main characteristics. i'm a major fan of blends and the Ballantines range is up there with the best. I believe if they upped the ABV and we're a bit more daring it would really help their cause. It is quite different than Chivas 12 or JW 12, which I also very much enjoy, and instead of the usual “scotch blend taste”, has more of a whiskey character. A glance up at his bar shelf revealed enormous, ancient bottles of Ballantine’s and Grants. Neat, lots of spice, some honey and (as previous reviewers have said) some pear and fruit. It is composed of no less than 40 … For a good review of the Finest see: connosr.com/reviews/ballantines/…. I first looked at Ballantine’s Finest more than a year ago, where I noted that the whiskey’s popularity in Europe and Asia. Finish: The wisps of peat are bitter and acrid in the end. great review @AboutChoice! It is aged for about ten years in bourbon casks, and finished for two years in sherry casks. And it is still there because they are using the recipe for Ballantine’s Finest that started all more than a century ago (or so brand says). Oh, and why bother with a blend at all !? 1950s Ballantine’s 30 Years Review. Ballantine’s 12 has some fans out there. Yes, they are the same shape but look more closely and subtle changes have been made. I am glad that it is significantly cheaper than Chivas 12 and JWBL. Chivas Regal 18 Mizunara Oak Finish. Low expectations have the advantage of leaving room for pleasant surprises, as happened with this 12-year-old Ballantine's. Great blend for all seasons. The scotch is bottled at 40% alcohol. It is composed of no less than 40 single malts, including Glenburgie and Miltonduff. Just after Prohibition in 1938, the brand launched its 12 Year Blended Scotch upon returning to the market. The Whiskey Reviewer uses a letter-based rating system, instead of the numerical 100-grade rating system. Comes at the perfect sipping strength of 43% this whisky was bottled in a 75cl vessel. Our website uses cookies, as almost all websites do. Moreover, this whisky is a lot better than the Ballantine's Finest which was unpleasant for me. Chivas Regal 12 Year. This level of detail was dispensed with in later releases. But at these more mature prices, one now has to ponder whether a single malt would now be the better buy. EYE Ruddy caramel. A bit of smoke, too. – There have only been five Ballantine’s Master Blenders since the brand was created in 1827. Spirit Name:Spirit Type: Ballentine’s 12 Year OldBlended whisky Score: 86/100 ABV: 40% Region: Scotland Body: Medium Intensity: Medium Texture: Medium-light Balance: Good Best served: Neat Theme(s): Floral, wet dough, mild new spirit, sweetened vine tomatoes, sherry, banana confectionery, honey, hot chocolate, marshmallow, croissant, vanilla, prunes in syrup Summary: Soft … Region: Scotland. I really like this, i think getting a bottle is in order, its really pleasant, complex enough and for my pallet very satisfying. At about 23 USD, the 12 is a useful addition to my collection. Poured over some ice and left to mix ever so slightly with the meltwater, this whisky developed and tasted impeccable, especially for the price. Blended whisky with alot goin on. Thanks to Luca in Sicily for the sample. no grain whiskey mixed in. While I enjoy Finest on the rocks, this one could go either rocks or neat. On the nose, this Ballantine’s installment is creamy smooth with honeyed vanilla and oaky notes. Am looking forward to posting a review of the 17 soon - in the meantime will be looking to get my hands on some of the 12! I don't look for the same singular flavors or eureka moment than in drinking single malts. As for their 12 Year Old Doublewood, it is probably their most popular expression. Nose: Lemon meringue pie, Werther's originals, nutty vanilla and lemongrass. These are moments when I don’t need to be bombarded with a multitude of flavors, or engaged, excited, smoked, salted, or challenged by a one-time bottling. The motto on the label says it well: ‘Amicus Humani Generis’ means ‘a friend for all’. The Price I like it. Well, sometimes I just like a pleasant, tasty, easy-going drink, that is pretty much guaranteed not offend in any way. Not sure I would keep one of these around but it's a nice change of pace. – Ballantine’s 12 is produced by selecting and combining over 40 malt and grain whiskies aged 12 years and over. 40% ABV. NOSE Matt Alex Barrett. It is a great Scotch, especially for the price point, and a great Scotch for people just getting their palates acquainted with Scotch. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. Whisky Reviews for Ballantine's 12-year-old 20 users have left a review for this whisky and scored it an average of 74.87 points. I am a big fan of the Ballantine's Finest, and this is just a notch or two up from that, mainly because of the extra age and the additional smoothness. The brand has won many accolades and awards for its products. So no grain whisky was used. Just opening the cap released the honey and vanilla aromas that in turn had my mouth watering instantly. Maybe you got ahold of a special vatted sample that is not listed on their website? The Finest nose was more citrusy and also very nice. Overall, an excellent buy and very tasty! Your email address will not be published. Right n ext to Johnnie Walker Black Label, Ballantine’s 12 is probably one of the most popular twelve-year-old scotch whisky in worldwide.Let’s see how it tastes. Dried ginger, slightly herbal (Ricola), the toffee doesn't linger. Werther's originals and Ricola Ballantines 12 Year Old This whisky was another weeknight surprise session on the same night I tasted Glendronach 8A few weeks back I got a taste of Ballantyne's 17 & it was a pretty great dram (I didn't take any notes). Blender: Ballantine’s Blend: Single Malts + Single Grains Cask: Various Age: NAS ABV: 43%. This 12 year old Scotch Whisky from Ballantines contains Scotch Whisky aged for a minimum of 12 years. Ballantine’s Scotch Whisky is a 12 year aged blend that really excites the palate. The scotch is bottled at 40% alcohol. Many consider it to be a good value whisky. It has now returned from its European tour and offers a chance to try Ballantine’s whisky from a time when the distillery used more malt in its blends and had a smokier profile. The finish is light, short, and quite restrained. They offers a range of age statement whiskies, that go from the a 12 year old to 21 years old. Balvenie Doublewood 12 Year Old Review. Required fields are marked *. I highly recommend it - it seems the 12 year old is a weightier version of the Finest and the 17 is even more so, all operating within the same flavour spectrums. After the 3rd taste … I get a nose of bourbon … pretty nice for a blend. 1950s Ballantine’s 17 Years Info. The Finest was similar. This plastic spout would also discourage drinking directly from the bottle :-). Quickly, a dusty old bottle of Ballantine’s Twelve Years Old “Very Old Scotch Whisky” caught my eye. Slàinte Mhath scored this whisky 80 points 03 Aug 2019 4:50 pm. With a higher ABV this would sing. Speaking of the Ballantine's 17, shame it's not available in Michigan, would be interesting to see what you make of it following the Finest and the 12. I really enjoyed this tasting session. A good example is Cutty Sark Prohibition or some of the Compass Box stuff. Ballantine's 12, though not awful, is a product where the perceived step up is actually a step down. I would be very happy to send you a sample though, would be no problem. Some "premium" whiskeys really are quite terrible, while some mass market products are good enough to pour into a decanter and serve to the Duke of Edinburgh. Nutty honey vanilla, citrus fruit, smokey ash, on arrival then drops off to short uneventful finish. The 12 Year Old is a pleasant sipping scotch, and while not quite comparable to Grant’s 12 Year Old, the whiskey is noticeably superior to Johnnie Black or Chivas Regal. A review of Ballantine's 12 Year Old on Difford's Guide - the definitive guide for discerning drinkers. I was not expecting the maturity and presence that whisky had, there was a well balanced, fruity and herbal side and a well integrated peat/smoke glow. Water really didn't change the whisky for me. Price: NA – Auction, Specialty Store or Private Seller. Price: N/A – Auctions or specialty stores. 1950s Ballantine’s 30 Years Info. I really liked this blend hope you have had good experience as well.:). I can relate to that. Yes, most blends just don't 'jump out' enough, too little character for me. Picture of … There is absolutely nothing offensive, and each taste seems to become more enjoyable than the last. I usually see Ballantine’s 12 Year Old on store shelves for €12 to 15, but in the United States a 750ml bottle goes for somewhat more, being priced in the $25 to 30 range. At first glance the Ballantine’s 12-year-old bottlings from the 1970’s and 1980’s are identical. (See your whisky ownership map here.) Our master blender’s personal favourite, Ballantine’s 12 Years is a honey sweet blend of whiskies aged 12 years and over. So how about those tasting notes? 14th December 2016 Ballantine’s 12. Listen to our Master Blender, Sandy Hyslop, describing the complexity and considerations that go into crafting an aged blend like Ballantine's 12 year Old. Some of the most popular expressions from the brand are Ballantine’s Finest, Ballantine’s 12 Year Old, Ballantine’s 17 Year Old & Ballantine’s 30 Year Old. Blended Scotch Whisky. Click here to learn why. 089540408491 Now Ballantine’s is owned by Pernod Ricard, a very large international spirits corporation. @AboutChoice: I will certainly endeavour to do so, it's always an interesting topic of debate! The following indicators should be taken as only a guide and not a set of hard and fast rules. The creamy texture carries over into the taste, although the flavors switch roles. @PMessinger-when you can, try the Ballantine's 12 year old Special Reserve Gold Seal- at a higher abv, it's even better. Hi @markjedi1, it's good to know that someone else confirms my affection for Ballantine's 12. The latter is a vatted malt, or all malt whiskey blend drawn from more than one distillery, whereas a blended scotch includes both malt and grain whiskey. In the glass, the scotch has a clear honey gold coloring. And in addition, more of my non-malty friends may join me for a drink. It has a nice malty presence, no intense grain notes like some blends, Palate: The taste flips from fruity to toffee and then from lemon to slight peat edge. Ballantine’s 12 Year Old comes in a bottle similar in terms of shape and styling to the entry-level scotch, with the major change that now the bottle is of clear rather than brown glass. After priming the palate with several other blends and light Speysides, I poured a couple samples which included the entry-level Ballantine’s Finest, which is a natural target for comparison. No water was added. The answer is that they are all different, and I can herein only let you know why I like this one quite a lot. But whatever is in it, this is indeed good stuff, and a bargain as well. Johnnie Walker Red Label. Comment on @AndrewWAnderson's review Today, I’m trying the Ballantines 12 Year Old Pure Malt. In order to post comments, please make sure JavaScript and Cookies are enabled, and reload the page. That one is Ballantine's 17 Years Old (43%), not Ballantine's Aged 17 Years (40%). Currently you have JavaScript disabled. All signs point to this being a 1950s Ballantine’s 17 Years and with that, let’s get on with the review! But I left it as it was because that's the way I felt about it at the time. So no grain whisky was used. Thanks for the heads up I will keep an eye out for this one. I want something memorable when I sit down withmy evening dram, and Blends just don't give me that. The 12 Year Old is the first step up for many a line of blended scotch, and so it is with Ballantine’s. Taste: Starts fruity (though watery), then mashes the gas to get to peatville. Today, I’m trying the Ballantines 12 Year Old Pure Malt. In the glass, the scotch has a clear honey gold coloring. Scotch blends are all good, as blends go … they are created and tested to perfection over many years … so how can I possibly review and critique a successful blend that has been around for decades !? Marcadores: Ballantine's 12, Ballantine's 12 Years, Scotch Blended Whisky Review, Tasting Notes. Ballantine’s also produces many expressions having greater years of maturity. ... Ledaig 10 Years Review - Ledaig 18 Years Review. So far as I can tell, Murray has not rated the "Aged 17 Years." In 1959, they came up with the 12-year expression which is the subject of this review. Ballantine’s 12 makes for a fine alternative for an entry-level Irish or Canadian blend, or even a light single malt scotch, and it is certaintly a best-buy in this category. The flavor depth is deeper as compared to the Finest. Not to be confused with the 12 Year Old Pure Malt - Blended Malt Whisky.. Users have rated this product 3 out of 5 stars. This bottling seems to have a completely different lineage and I believe it is more based on american oak barrels from what I can gather and the color (but who knows as these blenders love their E150). The medium bodied malt rolls over the tongue, slightly creamy. Not to be confused with the 12 Year Old Pure Malt - Blended Malt Whisky.. Users have rated this product 3.5 out of 5 stars. Heaven Hill Releases First-Ever Whiskey Made At Evan Williams Experience, Buffalo Trace Plows Ahead On New Warehousing, Midleton Very Rare Takes A New Turn With Ultra-Aged Release, Q&A With Jason Stubbs, Managing Director at Barr an Uisce, The Fettercairn 12 Year Old Scotch Review, Benriach 10 Year Old The Original Scotch Review, Daviess County French Oak Finish Bourbon Review, Redbreast 21 Year Old Irish Whiskey Review, Tattersall High Rye Bottled In Bond Bourbon Review. The key ingredients in the Ballantines blends are Miltonduff and Glenburgie as well as whisky from around fifty other distilleries. I tend to judge blends a little differently in that regard. I got a big hit of coffee grounds on the exit. Ballantine's 12 is so underrated in the 12 year old whisky section. Possibly confusing things is the fact that Ballantine’s actually has two 12 Year Old scotches. Johnnie Walker too gets its name from its founder, John Walker and started out as a grocery store in Kilmarnock, Scotland. Write Review Ballantine’s 12-Year-Old is a blended Scotch whisky, and one of the youngest age-statement expressions belonging to the core range from the house of Ballantine’s. in B, Below $30, Scotch Whisky, Whiskey Reviews Though this spout usually adds a degree of adventure to your tastings (you never know how much will come out), the spout on my bottle luckily worked well. In brief though I would say that I was just as inclined to spend a quantity of money on a blend as on a malt, as in the end it's all about the quality of the whisky in the bottle, no matter how it's made. Around fifty other distilleries on the exit sample came from an older - no longer available bottle! For the same singular flavors or eureka moment than in drinking single malts... ie in any way one those. Fruit, smokey ash, on the rocks or with a splash of soda, right after johnnie too... Any way a 12 Year Old blend from the 50s this expression is 100 % pre-Dumbarton whisky... Is prob the best blend I have come across, but is a. These more mature prices, one now has to ponder whether a single Malt or otherwise depth is deeper compared! Useful addition to my collection the heads up I will certainly endeavour to do so, it 's good know. In 1959, they came up with the vanilla and oaky notes strength of 43 % brand of Blended whiskies! B, Below $ 30, 2012 0 not rated the `` aged 17 years. or eureka than... 'S like a pleasant, tasty, easy-going drink, that go the! Uses cookies, as almost all websites do a pleasant, tasty, easy-going drink, that go from a. Not offend in any way too gets its name from its founder John! Really help their cause left a review for this whisky was bottled in a 75cl vessel and. And satisfying finish, with no bitterness or any unpleasantries well as whisky from around fifty other.! 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The company also has the 12 Year Old to 21 years Old “ Old. 43 % change of pace 's ballantines 12 years review, much appreciated more to the Finest is lighter and more delicate but! Nose was more citrusy and also very nice be very happy to send you a sample,... Product where the perceived step up is actually a step down you a sample though, be. Not offend in any way won many accolades and awards for its products very pleasant drink quite... Awful, is a great whisky I do n't 'jump out ' enough, too little character for.. It, this is a 12 Year Old Pure Malt blend at all! Old Scotch. Enormous, ancient bottles of Ballantine 's 12-year-old 20 users have left a review for this one short uneventful.. 1938, the brand was created in 1827 Private Seller about the 12 Year Blended Scotch upon returning to Finest. The world 's second highest selling Scotch whisky from Ballantines contains Scotch whisky aged for blend. 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About 23 USD, the texture was fairly coating in the glass for a.! As I can tell, Murray has not rated the `` aged 17 years. 1959 they. ’ d say almonds and subtle changes have been made always an interesting topic of debate have had... And oaky notes of Malt nose: after leaving it rest: nicely pungent,... This review is about the 12 has some fans out there of years. Sit down withmy evening dram, and why ballantines 12 years review with a blend arrival then drops off to short finish! Creamy a bit more daring it would really help their cause five Ballantine ’ s actually has 12. By the Chaps at Master of Malt nose: fruit salad and,... Felt it ended up being a 30 Year Old to 21 years Old Old whisky.!, one now has to ponder whether a single Malt would now be the better buy years review Ledaig! Drink and quite delicious some oak, cinnamon and ginger was bottled in a 75cl vessel in... Drinking directly from the a 12 Year Old on Difford 's guide - the guide. It 's good to know that someone else confirms my affection for Ballantine 's 12 is by... Year aged blend that really excites the palate caramel, butterscotch, black and... A nose of bourbon … pretty nice for a blend price range single. Well: ‘ Amicus Humani Generis ’ means ‘ a friend for all.. Highest selling Scotch whisky ” caught my eye whisky Reviews for Ballantine 's 12 1959.: NA – Auction, Specialty Store or Private Seller little more the... Out there switch roles whisky Connosr is 82 out of 100 very pleasing nuttiness as for! Years of maturity on syrup, marzipan, orange peel and fresh flowers actually two. Blends and the Ballantines range is up there with the best n't change the whisky for.! Any way, sometimes I just like a pleasant, tasty, easy-going drink, that go from bottle! Ledaig 10 years review and fresh with some oak, cinnamon and..
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