🥃 Ballantine's 30 Year Old
The thirty-year line of Ballantine's blended Scotch whisky, the top of the range; sources give different strengths.
Ballantine's 30 Year Old is the thirty-year line of Ballantine's blended Scotch whisky, which Difford's Guide mentions as the top of the range alongside the 17 Year Old. The number 30 is the age of the youngest whisky in the blend. Sources give different strengths: Whisky of the Week reports 43% ABV, other reviews 40%, so check the label.
Production. According to Whisky of the Week, the flavour rests on malt whiskies from Miltonduff, Scapa and Glenburgie, blended with other single malts and grain whiskies. The reviewer describes honey, caramel, toffee, vanilla and sherry notes with a light smoke, and on the palate dried fruit, nuts and oak spice. The source does not name the cask types. Under the Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009, the age on the label is the age of the youngest component.
Why this matters to you. This line is the peak of Ballantine's range: compare it with the 17 Year Old to see what the extra thirteen years add. Do not confuse blended Scotch with single malt, and check the strength against your bottle. The WHO reminds us that no level of alcohol consumption is safe.
Facts
| Year founded | Ballantine's brand: 1827 (shop in Edinburgh); own blends from 1865, Glasgow |
|---|---|
| Legal basis | Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/2890) (Blended Scotch Whisky) |
| EU category | whisky, blended Scotch |
| Raw material | malt whiskies (including Miltonduff, Scapa, Glenburgie) and grain whiskies |
| Minimum maturation | 30 years (age of the youngest whisky) |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | sources give 40% and 43% ABV; check the label |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Ballantine's 30 Year Old → packed in → 🍷 Oak barrel ← packed in ← 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Packed in
- 🍷 Oak barrel
- Made from
- 🥃 Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 🥃 Barley and malt in whisky
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Part of
- 🥃 Ballantine's, 🥃 Blended Scotch Whisky
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Ballantine's 12 Year Old, 🥃 Ballantine's 17 Year Old, 🥃 Ballantine's 12 Year Old, 🥃 Ballantine's 17 Year Old, 🥃 Ballantine's Finest, 🥃 Ballantine's Hard Fired, 🥃 Ballantine's Finest, 🥃 Ballantine's Hard Fired, 🥃 Scotch Whisky
Frequently asked questions
Is it true that all the whisky in Ballantine's 30 is 30 years old?
The number shows the age of the youngest component in the blend; older whiskies are also possible.
What is the strength of Ballantine's 30 Year Old?
Sources differ: Whisky of the Week gives 43% ABV, other reviews 40%. Go by the label.
Which malt whiskies shape its flavour?
According to Whisky of the Week, Miltonduff, Scapa and Glenburgie, alongside other single malts and grain whiskies.
What to read next
- 🥃 Ballantine's Hard Fired — Ballantine's line with no age statement, matured in bourbon casks re-charred in Scotland; according to Difford's Guide, 40% ABV.
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Oak barrel — A wooden barrel of oak staves in which wine matures and breathes.
- 🥃 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.
- 🥃 Single Malt Scotch Whisky — Scotch from a single distillery: only malted barley, water and copper pot stills; at least 3 years in oak, 40% vol. or more.
Similar
🥃 Ballantine's 12 Year Old · 🥃 Ballantine's 17 Year Old · 🥃 Ballantine's Finest · 🥃 Ballantine's Hard Fired · 🥃 Royal Salute 38 Year Old Stone of Destiny · 🥃 Dewar's 12 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
- Difford's Guide: George Ballantine and Son Ltd, history and range (1827 Edinburgh, 1865 Glasgow, Finest, 12, 17, 30; Pernod Ricard since 2005)
- Whisky of the Week: Ballantine's 30 year old blended whisky (Miltonduff, Scapa and Glenburgie malts in the blend; tasting notes; ISC Gold)
- The Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/2890), reg. 3: Scotch Whisky and its categories (Scotland, oak up to 700 l, min. 3 years, min. 40 % ABV)
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)