Mark Adams
Blended from more than 50 single malts (with particular emphasis on Miltonduff and Glenburgie) as well as 4 single grain whiskies. Ballantine’s Finest is a smooth, satisfyingly modern blend, now picking up serious momentum in overseas markets under owners Chivas Brothers.
Ladle of Contents
Ballantines Finest Review:
Initial: Although there is a lot going on in the front, the Ballantine’s Finest Appellation Reserve doesn’t let you down; the flavor gets strong and then dissolves very nicely with slight hints of chocolate and wood on the tongue.
Mid-palate: Now I can feel the plums in the wine, but that means the malt is doing its job. As the malt dies off and bits of chocolate hit the tongue, oranges creep in as well.
Finish: It’s a gentle finish and mostly wood. The Ballantine’s Finest is tasty and well worth the price if this is anything to go by.
Overall: It’s very smooth and well rounded. It’s not the best thing to drink a whole glass of, as it seems a bit heavy and the finish is slightly overpowering, but then, it’s a blend. It is however a great whisky for blending or if you just have a burning desire to try a lot of different whiskies.
Give it a try, you won’t be disappointed.
Ballantines Finest Review:
Initial: Alcohol is on your breath for a while, and there is a lot of oak and spice in the nose. It is a strong dram.
Mid-palate: There are light fruit flavors and some sweeter malts like honey or molasses on the tongue.
Finish: The finish is light and warming, with a touch of oak on the finish.
Overall: I recommend trying this one if you have a bottle. It is a unique cask type, and I think you will enjoy it.
It is not a bad blend, although it is nothing to write home about. It is just different.
Ballantine’s Finest Review:
Initial: Strong, some oak and a lot of alcohol burn that lasts a long time.
Mid-palate: Dry wood and baking spices.
Finish: Sweet with wood.
Overall: The Ballantine’s Finest is a strong whisky and a bit overbearing. If you get a bottle, you will enjoy the flavor, but it might not be something you would drink a whole lot of.
It’s a great whisky if you want something that is different.
Ballantine’s Finest Review:
Initial: Smoky and fresh.
Finish: Sweet and light.
Overall: It’s a little bit overdone, and I cannot recommend it.
Think of it as a spice bomb.
Ballantine’s Finest Review:
Initial: Some rye grain with a hint of citrus fruits and sweet spices. A bit of malty sweetness and oak. There is some sweet cinnamon in the nose that balances the dram.
Mid-palate: Not as much complexity or depth but smooth.
Finish: Not bad, it’s does not stay on the lips long or stick long.
Overall: I can see why people like it. It just needs some balancing with other tastes in terms of the palate or the finish.
I recommend this for an afternoon dram, as it is a very mild dram. If you are looking for a strong dram, look elsewhere.
Ballantine’s Finest Review:
Initial: The nose is creamy with fresh oranges up front.
Mid-palate: Very nice, slight dairy lactose with sweet cinnamon. Mellow caramel.
Finish: It is perfectly balanced with spices on the tongue and oak on the finish.
Overall: A superb blend. Delicious and smooth. It is easy on the pallet and very pleasant. There is a lot of whiskey in this blend, and this is one you will want to sip.
Ballantine’s Finest Review:
Initial: Nice and smooth with smells of fruit and wine.
Mid-palate: Very sweet.
Finish: A little watery, malty and somewhat sour.
Overall: This blend is a little too sweet for my taste, and was, of course, a bit too sweet for me.
It is still a decent blend, though not my favorite. This is one you will want to sip.
Ballantine’s Finest Review:
Initial: Slightly fruity with a lot of oak.
Mid-palate: Very concentrated with wood and sherry chemicals.
Finish: A little light, a little watery.
Overall: Although there is a lot going on overall, there is not much complexity or depth to the Ballantine’s Finest. It is a good blend, but maybe a little too sweet for my taste.
It is tasty, though.
Overall:
This is a lovely blend with bold flavors. In fact, the spices come up a little strong, but they are not overpowering. It is one of the best blended scotches out there.
Ballantine’s Finest Review:
Initial: Very fruity, malty and sweet with a hint of vanilla.
Mid-palate: It is a great caramel malt with a hint of coffee.
Finish: A touch of sticky and sweet with some wood.
Overall: There is a real sweetness to this blend. It is wonderfully rich and well balanced. It doesn’t have that much complexity to it, but it is certainly a smooth, fruity blend. It is nice to try but not something you will want to stand around with.
Ballantine’s Finest Review:
Initial: It is a nice start, very creamy and sweet with weak whisky flavors, but some oak is present as well.
Mid-palate: Very dry and strong with oak coming up.
Finish: A little hot with light oak on the tongue.
Overall: Not bad, I can see why people like it. It tastes like a blended whiskey, but not one that you would sip.
I recommend it for blending or if you are looking to just try out a malt.
Ballantine’s Finest Review:
Initial: Strong nutty and oaky. Slightly sweet and vanilla tones.
Mid-palate: Perhaps a bit too much oak, but it balances well with the malts.
Finish: The finish is almost like a liquorice water with wood and a hint of vanilla.
Overall: It is a nice blend, but almost has too much oak and spice. It is a bit on the strong side, and it is not something you will want to drink a whole lot of.
I recommend this for blending or if you are looking to try out a blending program.
Ballantine’s Finest Review:
Initial: A nice start with a lot of vanilla and spices.
Mid-palate: A nice mix of chocolate, oak, vanilla.
Finish: A good level of spices and oak.
Overall: This is a nice blend and I recommend it. It is pretty good, and I think it does what it is designed to do.
Give it a try if you want to break out of the Standard Blend and try something new.
Ballantine’s Finest Review:
Initial: A little spicy and warm.
Mid-palate: A very nice surprise. Some nice but subdued spices zip up the nose and stay on the palate. It is a strong blend with some sort of citrus in the background.
Finish: It is much lighter and nice and light on the tongue.
Overall: It is sweet and spicey, and although it is a single grain, it doesn’t overpower. It is a tasty and fine blend, and definitely worth a try.
It’s one of the best Single Grain Blends on the market.
Ballantine’s Finest Review:
Initial: A little spicy and hot, with red fruits and a hint of chocolate.
Mid-palate: Some wood and spice on the tongue, a hint of burnt malts as well.
Finish: A nice finish, but I am not sure if I would want to drink the whole bottle.
Overall: It is spicy and rich. Nice, but not something I would want to drink
