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KWM 2021 Whisky Calendar Day 24: Balblair 1991 Vintage

Posted on December 27, 2021

by Evan

Christmas Eve has finally arrived, along with Day 24 on our 2021 KWM Whisky Calendar. We are going a bit older for this bottle. Open the door and you will find the Ballblair 1991 Vintage!

For many years the Glenrothes and Balblair lineups were the only Single Malt Scotch ranges released as vintages only. Both distilleries have eschewed the vintage bottling in the past few years and gone to a more typical line of age-stated releases. When the switch happened in 2019, Balblair's new range was launched. The age stated range we have now is made of 121518 and 25-year-old bottlings. 

Balblair is likely one of the oldest distilleries in Scotland, though it has not been open continuously since its inception in 1790. Also, just over a century after production started in 1894, the distillery site was moved about a kilometre North to make it more accessible to the newly built Inverness to Ardgay Railway Line. This allowed the distillery to take advantage of the freight transport for the much-needed coal and barley used in heating and production.

The distillery was mothballed in 1911 and did not resume production until nearly decades later in 1948. Since then, it has changed ownership a few times but was sold to Inverhouse Distillers in 2007. In 2019 the Balblair Single Malt brand underwent a full-scale revamp. Balblair remains in the hands of Inverhouse/Thai Beverages today and is one of four Scottish Single Malt brands owned by the company. The others are Old PulteneyanCnoc (from Knockdhu Distillery), and Speyburn.

Balblair Distillery is located in the Northern Highlands, on the Southside of the Dornoch Firth and on the outskirts of a town called Edderton. Its nearest distillery neighbours are Glenmorangie, which is about a 10-minute drive going East, and the newer Thompson Brothers Distillery at Dornoch Castle. What lies on the Northside of the Dornoch Firth and is about a 15-minute drive from Balblair if you take the A9 across the Firth itself. If you take a 25-minute drive to the south along the A9 or via Struie Road and B9176, you will make arrive at Dalmore Distillery with Teaninch close by as well.

You could consider this bottling a library release. The 1991 Vintage for Balblair was first released in 2009 and had subsequent releases in the years after that. Our mini bottle here was part of the 3rd release of the expression and was bottled in 2018. The regular-sized bottles from this release are long since sold out, so this mini bottle version is the only one we have - until it runs out too. The whisky was matured in a combination of ex-Bourbon Casks and First-Fill Sherry Butts. Time to crack open that bottle and try the whisky inside!

Balblair 1991 Vintage 3rd Release - 46% ABV

Evan’s Tasting Note

Nose: Pastry-like and nicely sherried as well. A bit Rye-like on the nose. Raisins, cinnamon buns, lemon peels, a touch of dill and pine needles as well. Quite complex.

Palate: Rich and nutty with balancing citrus. Butterscotch candies, dark coffee, baking spices, candied ginger and a touch of Moscow Mule.

Finish: Pistachio ice cream and grapefruit pith on the fade.

Comment: It is sad to see the more limited but still well distributed vintage releases like this from Balblair slowly ride off into the sunset. I am glad I was able to enjoy this one last time.

Tasting a 26 or 27 year old Single Malt is a good way to spend a bit of Christmas Eve, don't you think? Especially when it is this good. Are you ready for Christmas Day and the 100ml bottle it will give us? See you tomorrow for one final dram!

Cheers,
Evan
[email protected]
Twitter and Instagram: @sagelikefool

This entry was posted in Whisky, Tastings, Whisky Calendars, KWM Whisky Calendar 2021

 

 

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