Balblair whiskies

History

The distillery was founded in 1790, at the height of legal distilling in the north of Scotland. At the end of the 19th century it moved a few metres from its original site to take advantage of the arrival of the railway, and the stone buildings from that time are still in use. During the 20th century it passed through several hands and worked mainly for blends, with temporary closures during the crises. In the mid-1990s it was bought by Inver House, which promoted the house malt. The distillery gained some popular fame when it appeared in a British film about a group of young people and a much-coveted cask of whisky.

House style

Balblair’s spirit is clean and fruity, thanks to long fermentations and short-necked stills that let some body through. The usual notes are apricot, baked apple, citrus, vanilla and sweet spice, with a honeyed background. The house matures mainly in bourbon casks, uses sherry to round things off and doesn’t work with peat. With age the fruit becomes riper and more candied, and notes of wax and soft tobacco appear.

Where to start

Balblair 12 Year Old is the entry expression of the current range and a good portrait of the house: fruity, spicy, at a good strength and not chill-filtered. You’ll like it if you’re drawn to Highland malts with ripe fruit and spice, and it’s a good point of comparison with other northern distilleries, such as Glenmorangie or Clynelish.

• Balblair 12 Year OldSingle malt · 46% ABV