A trio of official Balblairs


October 30, 2026

A trio of official Balblairs

Would you be up for a quick revisit of the 15, 18 and 25?

Balblair 15 yo (46%, OB, +/-2026)

A version from +/-2019 had been very good (WF 86), although the 15-year-old does involve a first-fill sherry finish. Colour: full gold. Nose: green walnuts, thyme, bay leaves, potting soil and a little camphor emerge ahead of Balblair’s typically fruity notes, and I must admit there is undeniable elegance here, along with very obvious complexity. Mouth: raisins and cinnamon over an apple, pear and quince tart. There is admittedly a slightly drying stalky, walnutty side, but it remains very pleasant, if not terribly ‘Balblair’ now. Finish: not very long, with the sherry making things slightly drying and rather reminiscent of black tea. Comments: not one of the most exuberantly fruity Balblairs after all, but still very pleasant.
SGP:451 - 83 points.

Balblair 18 yo (46%, OB, +/-2026)

Once again, a finish in first-fill sherry butts. Colour: full gold. Nose: more vibrancy, figs, oranges and very ripe fresh quince, with sherry that has behaved itself, even if walnuts and menthol cigarettes are not entirely absent. Mouth: once again, livelier than the 15-year-old, with more fruit, but also leather, walnuts and pecans, pear studded with pistachios, and spiced chocolate. Finish: not very long, a little drying, but it remains balanced, if not terribly Balblair-like. Comments: I do hope we shall encounter that extraordinary fruitiness again one day, as found in the older bottlings, starting with those utterly superlative 33- and 38-year-olds from Edderton, released, ahem, twenty or thirty years ago.
SGP:451 - 84 points.

Balblair 25 yo (46%, OB, +/-2026)

Once again, a sherry-cask finish (or was this proper double maturation?). I must admit I find this obsession rather odd, especially when you have a distillate as fabulous as Balblair in its ‘natural’ state (refill HHD, bourbon etc.). Colour: full gold. Nose: ah, blood orange and even a touch of pineapple, now that is good news. You would almost think this was an ex-rum cask, but we know it is not. Passion fruit, quinces, earl grey, chamomile tea, and walnuts that have kept themselves in check here. Mouth: rather gentle, although there is that slightly drying tea-like side again. Dark honey, a little peanut butter, tobacco, citrus zest… Frankly, this is not bad at all. Finish: not very long, but pleasant. Pear, nougat, tea, herbal infusions, liquorice… Comments: we would love some pure, clean-lined Balblair, fresh and fruity as in the old days. And indeed, as in the comparatively recent vintage bottlings.
SGP:451 - 85 points.

Check the index of all Balblair we've tasted