A couple of months ago Balblair distillery presented the Balblair 21 Year Old. It joins their core range with age statements, which replaced the vintage concept in 2019.
This single malt matured in second fill bourbon casks for 15 years. After that it went into ex-Oloroso wine casks (the label and most articles seem to avoid the term sherry).
Balblair 21 yo (46%, OB 2023)
Nose: at first you get the beautiful fruit esters from a bourbon matured Balbair. Juicy peaches, oranges and pineapples. A slightly tropical nose that reminds us of old cognac at times. Creamy custard notes and butter biscuits, as well as candied ginger. Then the Oloroso sets in, with golden raisins, mild baking spice and worn leather. Minty notes and light caramel too. Very rich and vibrant, with the wine in a (perfect) secondary role.
Mouth: the fresh fruits of the nose are now rather dried fruits. Sun-dried apricots, boozy spiced plums, clove studded oranges and candied ginger. Then toffee comes forward, alongside drying hints of sandalwood. Cinnamon, hazelnuts and red apples.
Finish: quite long, spicier and slightly more oak-infused, with some apricot, herbal honey and light tannins.
I like Balblair, although mostly from bourbon casks. I’m pleased the Oloroso is only supporting the spirit here. Overall this is a balanced whisky with a vibrant nose, but on the palate the European oak spice grows considerably louder. Available from The Whisky Exchange and Master of Malt for instance – I got a sample from Whiskysite.nl.