The Bombay Malt & Cigar club began over a Balblair 38 year from 1966… and continues to have a soft spot for special drams from this Highland distillery. When my most recent purchase from Chorlton arrived in Mumbai in time for my October 2025 hosting, I simply had to include it in my session!
Balblair 16 year (Spring 2025) hogshead 55.8% 271 bottles
- Nose – Honeysuckle, peaches, bananas, sweet pastry, a “French Fancy” in a glass, joyful and bright, a hint of mineral, then moves more into berries and herbs
- Palate – Starts off a bit prickly, quite active, and calls out for some water
- Water – Do please add, it then became a marvelous mess of Madeira cake, marmalade, joined by minerals in a lovely way – delicious!
- Finish – Dry, very wood forward
This too was another beautiful Balblair. It was “dessert in a glass”! Bright, fruity, classic, more than able to hold its own.
Here’s what David shared on his website about this Balblari:
I’m delighted to present the first Chorlton bottling from one of my favourite distilleries! Reliably the fruitiest Highlander this side of Hector McDram.
The nose is enticing and a little idiosyncratic, with honey, dessert wines, rose petals, blackcurrant branches and fruit cordials. The texture on the palate is remarkable – chewy and dense, while somehow also light and lively. Taste-wise I find cherries, Gewürztraminer, oranges and limes, and a blackberry pie with cinnamon and brown sugar. A drop of water has green apple sweets and citrus popping out.
This is a wonderfully fruity, floral and complex whisky. What a spirit!
I bought this whisky online in the UK directly from David in April 2025 for £95 + 8 shipping (Eur 120). Which puts this into a pricier category for me, except for special treats.
Curious about other Balblair experiences? Read on…
- Balblair 99 46%
- Balblair 00 (2014) 46%
- Balblair 03 (2015) 46% 1st Release + Revisit with Karen Walker
- Balblair 05 (2015) 46% 1st Release
- Balblair 15 year 48.5% (Decadent Drinks – Equinox & Solstice Summer Edition 2023)
- Balblair 18 year 46%
- Balblair 21 year (~2024) 46%
- Balblair 38 year (1966/2004) 44%
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