🥃 Balblair 12 Year Old
The youngest age in Balblair's permanent range: 12 years in ex-bourbon and twice-charred American oak casks; 46% ABV.
Balblair 12 Year Old is the youngest expression in the age-statement range of Balblair distillery in the Northern Highlands. It appeared in 2019, when the brand dropped vintages in favour of age statements. Strength is 46% ABV, according to Scotchwhisky.com and The Whiskey Wash. It is the only release in the range without sherry casks.
Like the rest of Balblair, it is made from barley malt and distilled twice in copper pot stills. According to Scotchwhisky.com, the whisky matures in ex-bourbon casks and in twice-charred American oak barrels. Heavy charring adds more vanilla and sweet woody notes. Scotchwhisky.com describes the taste as dried orange, ground spice and vanilla.
Why it matters to you. Balblair 15 Year Old and Balblair 18 Year Old are finished in sherry casks after bourbon barrels, so they are darker and richer. If you want to taste the distillery's style without the influence of sherry, compare with this expression. The WHO reminds: there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 46% ABV |
|---|---|
| Minimum maturation | 12 years |
| Cask type | ex-bourbon casks and twice-charred American oak barrels |
| Raw material | barley malt |
| Year founded | 2019 (age-statement range) |
| EU category | 2 — whisky/whiskey |
| Legal basis | Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/2890): Single Malt Scotch Whisky |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Balblair 12 Year Old → affects → 🍷 Alcohol and health ← affects ← 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Packed in
- 🐝 American white oak, 🥃 Ex-bourbon barrel
- Made from
- 🥃 Barley and malt in whisky
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Part of
- 🥃 Balblair, 🥃 Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 🥃 Highland whisky, 🥃 Scotch Whisky
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Balblair 15 Year Old, 🥃 Balblair 15 Year Old, 🥃 Balblair 25 Year Old, 🥃 Balblair 25 Year Old, 🥃 Old Pulteney 12 Year Old
Frequently asked questions
Is it true that Balblair 12 matures in sherry casks?
No. According to Scotchwhisky.com, it matures in ex-bourbon casks and twice-charred American oak barrels; sherry is used in the 15-, 18- and 25-year-old.
What is the strength of Balblair 12 Year Old?
46% ABV, according to Scotchwhisky.com and The Whiskey Wash.
When did Balblair 12 Year Old appear?
In 2019, together with the whole age-statement range that replaced vintages.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🥃 Barley and malt in whisky — Malted barley is the base of whisky: malt enzymes convert starch in the mash, and EU whisky is distilled below 94.8% vol.
- 🐝 American white oak — A North American oak that gives wine strong vanilla and coconut notes.
- 🥃 Old Pulteney 12 Year Old — Core version of Old Pulteney: a single malt Scotch whisky from the Pulteney distillery in Wick; at least 12 years, mostly refill American oak casks; 40% ABV.
- 🍷 Drunk driving — Never drive after drinking wine: alcohol slows your reactions.
Similar
🥃 Balblair 18 Year Old · 🥃 Balblair 15 Year Old · 🥃 Balblair 25 Year Old · 🥃 Tobermory 12 Year Old · 🥃 Fettercairn 12 Year Old · 🥃 Fettercairn 24 Year Old
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- Scotchwhisky.com: Balblair removes vintages amidst revamp (28.03.2019; 12 y.o. ex-bourbon and double-fired American oak; 15 and 18 y.o. ex-bourbon, then first-fill Spanish oak sherry butts; 25 y.o. ex-bourbon, then ex-oloroso casks; all 46 %)
- The Whiskey Wash: Whisky Reviews — Balblair 12-, 15-, 18-, 25-Year Single Malt Scotches (06.03.2021; core collection, all 46 %)
- The Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/2890), reg. 3: definition and categories of Scotch Whisky
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)
Also listed under
- SpiritsWhiskyScotch WhiskyHighland whisky
- SpiritsWhiskyScotch WhiskyBalblair
- SpiritsWhiskyScotch Whisky
- SpiritsWhiskyBalblair