WF’s Little Duos: today Balblair OB vs IB


March 13, 2026

WF’s Little Duos: today Balblair OB vs IB

I’m not sure you’ll agree, but here at WF HQ we feel there simply isn’t enough Balblair. I know times are hard, but it is always a little sad to see very lovely malts seeming to slip quietly into the background. In any case, we love Balblair, especially since the first time we visited the distillery, twenty-five years ago… Back in the days of their old fruit bombs of a truly intergalactic level…

Balblair 2006/2022 (49.3%, OB, Distillery Only, refill bourbon barrel, cask #546)

This is not entirely an official bottling, truth be told, since the fortunate visitors who acquire it must bottle it themselves, by hand. Well, you see what we mean… In any case, it is great fun of course. Colour: straw. Nose: pale barley, very soft acacia honey, almost acacia nectar in fact, the usual apples, fresh mint, cold-brew green tea, then a small dab of proper lady’s face cream and a vanilla touch. What we do not quite find at this stage is tropical fruit, except perhaps the faintest suggestion of ripe banana. Mouth: grapefruit pips and bitter orange zest step in, the rest being much more rustic than on the nose, far more herbal too, with more ginger ale and a slightly turmeric-like side. We do feel tempted to add water… With water: it draws out the oak on the nose and the fruits on the palate, which is most welcome. Oranges, greengages, melon… Finish: fairly long and curiously brighter, almost lemony. Comments: a very pretty bottle, with a slightly rustic side and rather less of the rather massive fruity profile we often find in Balblair plus bourbon.
SGP:551 - 85 points.

Balblair 17 yo 2008/2025 (56.2%, Decadent Drams, 1st fill bourbon barrel, 172 bottles)

It is really rather provocative of Decadent Drinks to create a label that simply displays a charming watercolour of the distillery. Do you not find that terribly disruptive? Colour: gold. Nose: extremely close territory to that of the official, with vanilla and banana just a shade more marked. With water: it moves towards farmhouse cider, though there are also a few fresh tropical fruits and even a very faint suggestion of double cream. Mouth (neat): the same impressions again, bitter orange, zests, green apples, a lively and cutting side, even a faintly tart edge… With water: it settles into a more obvious fruitiness, with lemon, bergamot and touches of passion fruit. Finish: medium length, rather on fruit yoghurts. Apricots, oranges… Comments: we had grown very accustomed to Balblairs with immaculate fruitiness, but we rather get the impression that to find that profile one needs rather inactive casks and plenty of years.
SGP:551 - 85 points.

We’ll have to get our hands on a really old Balblair matured in refill casks. Last-minute note: once the two glasses are empty, they become much more floral and elegant. Orange blossom, etc…

(Thank you, Tom)

Check the index of all Balblair we've tasted