OB 38yo 1966 44% - Balblair

[C57]

Balblair 38yo

nose : Mmmmm, toffee apples, then spices interwoven with something ... it's like those mentholyptus cough sweets in the background Yummy

Palate : So flavoursome - what is it all? Initial hit of sweetness followed by a chewy mouthful of raisins with spicy wood. Also a bit gingery (like Nadurra but mellowed).

Finish : Spicy, long long finish with thick honey at the end, mingled with more3 of the ginger,

Wow!

[lincoln imp]

Nick spot on about the finish it certainly is long and spicy with a honey after taste, as for the palate there was that much happening i could only get well er, ginger spices but thankfully not too overpowering as i don`t really like ginger.
If i am really flush in the New Year i will get another bottle of this but it is becoming harder to find at a decent price.
Greg
PS Would you rather have this than HP 25?

[C57]

Nick spot on about the finish it certainly is long and spicy with a honey after taste, as for the palate there was that much happening i could only get well er, ginger spices but thankfully not too overpowering as i don`t really like ginger.
If i am really flush in the New Year i will get another bottle of this but it is becoming harder to find at a decent price.
Greg
PS Would you rather have this than HP 25?

Now don't be silly!

I'll PM you about sources

[lincoln imp]

PS Would you rather have this than HP 25? [/quote]
Now don't be silly!

Yeah i suppose i knew the answer to that before i posed the question

[TheTross]

Nose: Oof! Not what I was expecting at all! Beautifully sherried, with marzipan, dark fruit (blackcurrants and red apples spring to mind) and perhaps the faintest hint of burnt match evident. Treacle and dark chocolate-coffee liqueurs. Also quite creamy, with a smattering of eucalyptus every now and then. Some spices - cinnamon? Something resembling strawberry fondant-filled chocolates (Roses?) develops after a while. Superb stuff - I could have my nose wedged in the glass forever!

Palate: A good layer of sherry, with dark chocolate and dark fruits (a little more blackcurrant and raspberry this time). Spices again. Can I detect a slight amount of lime?

Finish: Lots of sherry and fruit. Slightly oaky and a good dollop of honey to round things off.


Wow! This is in a completely different league to the other Balblairs I've tried, and in fact puts them to shame. The nose is absolutely stunning, with the palate and finish following up well. Reminds me somewhat of Springbank 21 in profile actually.

[C57]

Retasted for a WMF tasting:

Balblair 38yo

nose : Stewed apples, then toffe. Spices too with menthol and eucalyptus (this reflects my original note).

Palate : Again, that slight library but this time on the palate not the nose.
Rich and chewy. Some Christmas cake fllavours in here with all that dried fruit.
First off, quite sweet, then some spice.
Yes, I still think there's ginger in there.

Finish : Long and spicey. Honeyed and rich. Then the library comes back - and still later there's a wave of oranges!

My goodness, this is great stuff. Lovely