Compass Box Myths and Legends I (Balblair)

Compass Box Myths and Legends I (Balblair)

Myths and Legends, Compass Box
Single malt - North Highlands
Pale yellow 
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Pears, cream, white wine, apricots, honey, white pepper, hints of Demerara sugar. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, cool, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Green tea, white wine, apricots, honey, pears, malted grains, gooseberries. 
Finish: Short. Green tea, pears, honey, gooseberries, white wine. 

Comments: 

Fruity and creamy, quite sweet with a light acidity. Almost like white wine and deliciously quaffable. Smooth and slippery, especially down the throat. A dangerous session dram.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

A Ross-shire Distillery 12yo 2011/2023

A Ross-shire Distillery 12yo 2011/2023

Thompson Brothers 
Single malt - North Highlands
Sunshine yellow 
55.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: White grapes, apricots, peaches, vanilla, hoppy beer, honey, hints of sultanas. With water, vanilla, honey, peaches. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, static, mouth coating, expands. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Apricots, peaches, hoppy beer, malted grains, vanilla, cotton candy, hints of bubble gum. With water, malted grains, apricots, hoppy beer, sultanas. 
Finish: Medium. Bubble gum, malted grains, cotton candy, apricots. 

Comments: 

Lots of stone fruit notes. It’s a malty giant, but also floral with other slightly chemical esters. As a rule I don’t like bubble gum flavours in my whisky, but here it’s a nice little accent on the flavour profile.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Balblair 29yo 1990/2020

Balblair 29yo 1990/2020

Connoisseur’s Choice Cask Strength, Gordon & Macphail 
Single malt - North Highlands 
Amber
58.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Wheat porridge, sea salt, leather, lemon zest, honey, golden syrup, raisins. With water, farmyard, dunnage, raisins. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, airy, loosens, turns watery. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Black tea, oats, leather, lemon zest m, sea salt, hints of dunnage. With water, sea salt, oats, dunnage, golden syrup. 
Finish: Long. Black tea, oats, leather, malted grains, dunnage. 

Comments: 

Cask 4166. Lovely old Balblair, lots of savoury leather notes, together with dunnage. It’s almost dusty, yet drank neat, it’s quite sweet and citrusy. Very interesting and a real treat. Thanks Lutz!

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Balblair 38yo 1966/2004

Balblair 38yo 1966/2004

Official bottling 
Single malt - North Highlands
Teakwood
44% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peaches, pineapples, apricot jam, manuka honey, raisins, marshmallows, hints of milk chocolate. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, expands, turns airy. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Pineapples, lychees, raisins, manuka honey, strawberries, apricot jam, hints of cinnamon, hints of cloves. 
Finish: Long. Jasmine, manuka honey, apricot jam, cloves, hints of lilac. 

Comments: 

What a magnificent old Balblair! Lots of fruit of course, a distillery characteristic, but also a deep, intense, almost cloying honeyed sweetness. Floral notes abound, as well as lots of spices. Quite unrivalled.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Balblair 30yo 1978/2008

Balblair 30yo 1978/2008

Official bottling 
Single malt - North Highlands 
Golden 
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Apricot jam, white grapes, greengages, peaches, vanilla, hints of cedar, hints of lilac. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens, astringent, slightly oily. 
Tasting:  Sour. Apricot jam, peaches, toasted coconut, pineapples, cinnamon, tangerines, sultanas, hints of white grapes, hints of lilac. 
Finish: Short. Vanilla, cedar, peaches, toasted coconut, white grapes. 

Comments: 

I’ve been after this 30yo bottling for a long time. It met expectations - heavy and floral, fruity, yet tart. There’s a hint of smoke that is subsumed in coconut sweetness. Lots of wood as well. Utterly lovely.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Balblair 24yo 1979/2003 Limited Edition

Balblair 24yo 1979/2003 Limited Edition 

Official bottling 
Single malt - North Highlands 
Dark gold 
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: White grapes, sour cream, kiwifruit, greengages, toast, watermelon rind, apricots. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens, slippery, expands. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. White grapes, greengages, apricots, toast, lemon zest, ginseng, sultanas, apricots. 
Finish: Medium. Greengages, watermelon rind, ginseng, apricots, toast. 

Comments: 

Austere and delicate, this whisky doesn’t quite have the root of fruit flavours that I’ve come to expect from Balblair. It’s even got bitter herbal notes. Nope, wouldn’t have flagged this one as Balblair if I’d tasted it blind. Nevertheless, very nice, and a good one to have quite deep in a tasting session.

Verdict:

I like this.

Balblair 1985/2015 NATEX Exclusive

Balblair 1985/2015 NATEX Exclusive 

Official bottling

Single malt - North Highlands 
Dark gold, hints of copper
53.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Apricots, rhubarb and custard sweets, plums, white grapes, lemon sweets, kiwifruit, coffee. With water, white grapes, peaches, greengages, apricots. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, static, slippery, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Apricots, plums, passionfruit, dark chocolate, lemon sweets, coffee, hints of peaches. With water, slightly bitter, dark chocolate, apricots, greengages. 
Finish: Medium. Dark chocolate, coffee, fresh baked bread, peaches, apricots. 

Comments: 

Cask 247 - bottled at 30 years old for a defence organisation’s anniversary. It’s got lots of stone fruit and dark chocolate notes, and a pleasingly bitter sweet finish. Very nice, very Balblair.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Balblair 1990/2019 Mystery Bottle

Balblair 1990/2019 Mystery Bottle

Private bottling
Single malt - North Highlands
Amber orange
I make it around 54% ABV
Dram

Nose: Heather honey, golden syrup, dried pineapples, papaya, orange peel, hints of malted grains. With water, dried pineapples, golden syrup, farmyard, malted grains, hints of wet stones. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, tingly, warm. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Apricots, dried pineapples, papaya, orange peel, nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice, farmyard, hints of peaches. With water, cinnamon, orange peel, pear drops, papaya, farmyard, allspice.  
Finish: Long. Malted grains, apricots, papaya, dried cherries, dried pineapples. 

Comments: 

Not much on background detail, but it’s absolutely magnificent whisky. Huge amounts of dried fruits, heaping variety, opens up beautifully with water. Very sweet as well.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Balblair 1991/2017 bottled for World Duty Free and Glasgow Airport

Balblair 1991/2017 bottled for World Duty Free and Glasgow Airport

Official bottling 
Single malt - North Highlands
Amber
51.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, peaches, apricots, chocolate, blackcurrant cordial, dried cherries, cloves, hints of coffee. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, cool, slippery, slightly tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Raisins, fresh baked bread, apricots, umeshu, peaches, cloves, chocolate, dried pears, hints of black pepper. 
Finish: Medium. Fresh baked bread, peaches, coffee, raisins, black pepper. 

Comments: 

Cask 013. This one is finished in sherry rather than fully sherried, and it retains even more of the classic Balblair notes. It’s quite spicy, with some tartness that was drowned out in the previous whisky. Even more enjoyable.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Balblair 1999/2016 TWE Exclusive

Balblair 1999/2016 TWE Exclusive 

Official bottling 
Single malt - North Highlands 
Russet
51.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Red grapes, honey, blackcurrant cordial, raisins, dark chocolate, nutmeg, hints of coffee. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, tingly, thickens, turns syrupy. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Mint, raisins, golden syrup, blackcurrant cordial, grilled pork, coffee, cloves, hints of apricots.
Finish: Medium. Dark chocolate, coffee, raisins, nutmeg, cloves. 

Comments: 

Cask 1712. Sherried Balblair, not very common. It’s quite fruity even for a sherried whisky, the Balblair characteristics of apricots and stone fruit are still evident. Plenty of spice as well, with a slightly bitter chocolatey finish. Mmmm.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Balblair 21yo 1997/2018 for La Maison du Whisky

Balblair 21yo 1997/2018 for La Maison du Whisky

Official bottling 
Single malt - North Highlands 
Dark gold 
56.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Kiwifruit, apricots, lemon zest, lime curd, calamansi, green tea. With water, honey, vanilla, lime curd, hints of coffee sheets. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, astringent, tingly, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sour. Apricots, calamansi, lemon zest, green tea, fresh baked bread, yuzu, nutmeg, hints of white pepper. With water, yuzu, lime curd, lemon zest, hints of fresh baked bread. 
Finish: Medium. Lemon zest, calamansi, nutmeg, yuzu. 

Comments: 

Cask 1146. This is delightful. Lots of different citrusy flavours I don’t normally find in whisky, like calamansi lime and yuzu. There’s some spiciness that’s very enjoyable too. A cut above its sister cask (see previous tasting note). 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Balblair 22yo 1997/2019 Highland Whisky Festival Exclusive

Balblair 22yo 1997/2019 Highland Whisky Festival Exclusive

Official bottling 
Single malt - North Highlands 
Bright gold
56.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Malted grains, green tea, lemon zest, lemon curd, cotton sheets, kiwifruit, nectarines, hints of dried apples. With water, watermelons, white grapes, hints of fresh cut grass. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, slippery, airy, expands. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Lemon zest, clotted cream, vanilla, nectarines, key limes, hints of sourdough bread. With water, cotton sheets, lime marmalade, lemon zest, hints of dried apples. 
Finish: Short. Lemon juice, lemon zest, key limes, malted grains. 

Comments: 

Cask 1109. Highly fruity, with a herbal edge. It’s quite an intense spirit, lots of layers, lots of complexity. I really like definition though, and I had to work quite hard on this to discern the individual flavour notes. Very Balblair in that respect. 

Verdict:

I like this.

Balblair 18yo

Balblair 18yo

Official bottling 
Single malt - North Highlands 
Amber 
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Bananas, malted grains, candied oranges, raisins, apricots, cream, dried apples. 
Mouthfeel: Sweet. Malted grains, honey, cream, vanilla, raisins, orange peel, dried apples, hints of barley sugar.  
Tasting:  Sweet. Malted grains, honey, cream, vanilla, orange peel, dried apples, hints of barley sugar. 
Finish: Long. Lemon juice, malted grains, raisins, dried apples. 

Comments: 

A very decent offering from Balblair. Lots of bright fruity notes, something characteristic of the distillery. It’s malty and slightly funky as well, a style I enjoy. Lastly, it’s at a decent strength too. Strong like from me.

Verdict:

I like this.

Balblair 15yo

Balblair 15yo

Official bottling
Single malt - North Highlands
Amber
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, orange peel, shortbread, kiwifruit, vanilla, hints of custard. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, oily, astringent, numbing. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Kiwifruit, gooseberries, orange peel, honey, toast, hints of pineapples. 
Finish: Medium. Toast, honey, vanilla, gooseberries. 

Comments: 

A sweet and fruity dram, very classical Highlands whisky. Nice tangy gooseberry notes, even some tropical fruit on the tongue and perhaps even the finish. Slight tang of smoke too. Nice whisky.

Verdict:

I like this.

Balblair 1990 (23 yo 1990/2014)

Balblair 1990 (23 yo 1990/2014)

Official bottling
Single malt - North Highlands
Dark amber
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Malted grains, liquorice, rice, leather, vanilla, hints of honey. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens, chewy, sticky. 
Tasting:  Bitter. Liquorice, rice, leather, honey, soursop, pears. 
Finish: Long. Rice, leather, pears, liquorice. 

Comments: 

Very cereally, even slightly starchy. Good strong aniseedy notes, wreathed through with touches of honey and fruit. The two years of finishing in oloroso sherry casks didn't tame this much. It's very good indeed.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Balblair 2002 (10 yo 2002/2013)

Balblair 2002 (10 yo 2002/2013)

Official bottling
Single malt - North Highlands
Very pale gold
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, orange peel, honey, cranberries, hints of pears. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens slightly, chewy, sticky. 
Tasting: Sweet sour. Cookie dough, vanilla, orange peel, pears, hints of cranberries. 
Finish: Short. Cookie dough, vanilla, orange peel, stewed apples. 

Comments: 

With the advent of lots of no-age-statement whiskies, it's always nice to find a distillery that makes aged whisky, sells it, and doesn't attempt to replace it when it runs out. This was a recent one of Balblair's excellent range of entry level malts, and it is characteristic of the distillery's fruity, oaky highland make. It wouldn't shoot the lights out, but it's really nice, comforting, tasty whisky.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Balblair 10 yo

Balblair 10 yo

Distillery Labels, Gordon & Macphail
Single malt - North Highlands
Pale green
43% ABV
Sampler

Nose: Salt, leather, brown paper, raisins, cloves, plums.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, slippery, oily.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Vanilla, brown paper, leather, raisins, dates, prunes, plums, hints of pineapples.
Finish: Long. Brown paper, dates, prunes, vanilla.

Comments:

Young, but tastes old! Lots of dried fruit, not as fresh and as tangy as the official Balblairs are, although there is still a nice tart hint of pineapple. Instead, this whisky is sweet, vanilla-laden, and slightly briney.

Verdict:I like this.

Balblair Distillery

Balblair Distillery
Edderton
Tain
Ross-shire IV19 1LB

North Highlands, Scotland - Active

Flavour profile

My impression of Balblair is that it's chockful of fruit. Quite a lot of "yellow fruits" (as opposed to red fruits) - pineapple and lemon - and some floral elements that vary from whisky to whisky, and consequently I can't pin down. The fruit tends to be quite sharp, and the whisky quite tangy.

Slightly chaotic Wordle here, but it shows pineapples, apricots and lemons as major flavour elements. That's accurate for the 2 official bottlings that I've tried, at least, but for the Balblair 40 yo, there was a lot less fruit than more usual sherried whisky elements.


All the Balblairs I've tasted so far are here.

Balblair 1997 9 yo (1997/2007) - good
Balblair 40 yo 1965/2007 - very good
Balblair 1989 17 yo (1989/2007) - very good

Distillery history

The first licence was obtained by John Ross in 1790, but there had been distilling on Balblair farm for about 40 years before that. The distillery stayed in the Ross family until 1894, when it passed into the hands of one Alexander Cowan, and eventually to Allied Domecq, who then sold Balblair to Inver House Distillers. The distillery moved at some time early in its history, but it kept the same ownership, and moved only a short distance.

The distillery was silent from 1911 to 1948. In February 2007, all 8 age statement bottlings were discontinued and replaced with 3 vintage bottlings, 1979, 1989 and 1997.

Potted distillery facts

Water source: Allt Dhearg, 4 miles from distillery.
Washbacks: Six, Oregon pine, 22,000 litres each.
Wash stills: One, normal Dumpy neck, 19,093 litres.
Spirit stills: Two, normal Dumpy neck (old one no longer in use), the one in use is 11,044 litres, and the old one is 8,182 litres.
Spirit still Lyne arm: Almost a right angle
Production per year: 1,300,000 litres.

- The Scottish Whisky Distilleries, Misako Udo

Balblair 1989 17 yo (1989/2007)

Balblair 1989 17 yo (1989/2007)

Official bottling
Single malt - North Highlands
Straw
43% ABV
Sampler

Nose: Brassy, lemons, apples, pears, hints of chocolate, hints of iodine.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, static, slightly watery around the edges.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Chocolate, banana, salt caramel, vanilla, green apple, hints of pineapple.
Finish: Long. Raisins, white pepper.

Comments:

Aged in bourbon casks. Quite easy drinking. This is the mid-range expression of Balblair's new vintage bottlings. There's also a 1975, which I think isn't available in sampler bottles. Shame - I'd quite like to see if that has the youthful pineapple / green apple characteristics that this one is chock-full of.

Verdict:

I like this.

Balblair 40 yo 1965/2007

Balblair 40 yo 1965/2007

Anniversary Selection (Single Malts of Scotland), Specialty Drinks Ltd
Single malt - North Highlands
Mahogany
47.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Black tea, sherry, glace cherries, walnuts, fruitcake, hints of house dust.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, smooth, slightly viscous.
Tasting: Sweet. Orange peel, honey, apricots, prunes, hints of peach, hints of brown paper.
Finish: Medium. Vanilla, melon, chilli.

Comments:

This tastes old. Like something which has lain forgotten in the attic for years - it actually tastes dusty and wrapped in brown paper. Great, great fruit in it though, I started salivating once I got a close look at the colour, and I wasn't disappointed. Surprising little spicy kick in the finish too. Very nice indeed.

Verdict:

I like this a lot!