Ergänzend zu unserem Post Balblair stellt Portfolio um veröffentlichen wir nun die englischsprachige Pressemitteilung zu den neuen Abfüllungen von Balblair. Diese erreichten uns kurz nach unserer Veröffentlichung – da waren wir wohl ein klein wenig zu schnell oder ungeduldig.
Die offiziellen Tasting Notes sowie die Angaben zu den verwendeten Fässer haben wir für Sie übersetzt. Die unverbindliche Preisempfehlung ist von uns von Pfund in Euro umgerechnet. Danach finden Sie die vollständige englischsprachige Pressemitteilung.
Balblair 12-Year-Old
46 % Vol. (ca. 53 €)
Gereift in amerikanischer Eiche (ex-Bourbon) und doppelt gebrannten amerikanischen Eichenfässern.
Farbe: poliertes Gold
Aroma: Elegante, helle Zitronenschale mit cremiger Vanille und knackig grünen Äpfeln
Gaumen: Gemahlene Gewürze und getrocknete Orangenscheiben, umhüllt von intensiver Honigsüße
Finish: Cremig und ledrig mit Noten von süßer Vanille
Balblair 15-Year-Old
46 % Vol. (ca. 88 €)
Reifte anfangs in amerikanischen Eichen-Ex-Bourbon-Fässern, gefolgt von first-fill Spanish oak butts.
Farbe: heller Bernstein
Aroma: Lederholzhonig und würziger Lebkuchen, gefolgt von saftigen Pflaumen und frischer Zitronenschale
Gaumen: Samtige Textur mit dunkler Schokolade, tropischen Früchten und Gewürzen
Finish: Lang und weich mit Noten von cremiger Vanille und Zitrusfrüchten
Balblair 18-Year-Old
46 % Vol. (ca. 140 €)
Reifte anfangs in amerikanischen Ex-Bourbon-Fässern, gefolgt von first-fill Spanish oak butts.
Farbe: Geölte Zeder
Aroma: Reiches Toffee und gebackene Birnen strahlen vor einer eleganten Kulisse aus neuem Leder
Gaumen: Eine meisterhafte Balance aus saftigen Aprikosen, gewürzter Eiche und Vanillepudding
Finish: Lang und wärmend mit Akkorden von frischen Gewürzen und Rosinen
Balblair 25-Year-Old
46 % Vol. (ca. 585 €)
Reifte anfangs in amerikanischen Ex-Bourbon-Fässern und danach in Oloroso Spanish oak
Farbe: Warmes Kupfer
Aroma: Nachgiebige überreife Aprikosen und dunkles Lakritz heben sich von poliertem Eichenholz und einem Hauch Sattelwachs ab
Gaumen: Vollmundig mit öligen Zitrusfrüchten, Schokoladenpraline und einer schwachen frischen Note
Finish: Wärmend mit sanfter Schokolade und Blutorangen
New Balblair age-statement collection revealed
Multi-award-winning Highland distillery, Balblair, has today (28 March 2019) unveiled its plans to release a new collection of age-statement single malt Scotch whiskies, which will be available in the UK this month and rolled out globally from April 2019.
The new series features four whiskies, each meticulously hand selected, all of which retain the distillery’s unmistakable true Highland character and will replace all existing Balblair expressions.
The core collection includes:
• 12-Year-Old – matured in American oak ex-bourbon and double-fired American oak casks, with notes of dried orange, ground spices and sweet vanilla.
• 15-Year-Old – matured initially in American oak ex-bourbon casks, followed by first-fill Spanish oak butts, with notes of dark chocolate, tropical fruit and creamy vanilla.
• 18-Year-Old – matured initially in American oak ex-bourbon casks, followed by first-fill Spanish oak butts, with notes of juicy apricots, vanilla custard and raisins.
• 25-Year-Old – matured initially in American oak ex-bourbon casks then reshaped in Oloroso Spanish oak, with notes of oily citrus, chocolate praline, fresh tobacco leaf and blood oranges.
In a move away from the distillery’s current ‘vintage-only’ approach, the launch of this collection signals a new era for Balblair. While each expression offers its own unique appeal, the series as a whole stays true to Balblair’s house style, following a gentle and considered approach with its focus firmly on quality over quantity – an attribute Balblair has become renowned for.
John MacDonald, Distillery Manager at Balblair, said: “As one of the oldest working distilleries in the Scottish Highlands, Balblair has a long and rich history of crafting premium single malt Scotch whisky.
“We are proud of our heritage and we will continue to honour our centuries-old traditions, but we also look forward in a quiet pursuit of perfection.
“Our new collection is intrinsically linked to our heritage and is testament to the place and the people behind our whisky, while being emblematic of our ‘True Highland Spirit’.”
Inspired by Balblair’s rich past, the packaging for the new collection is reflective of the distillery’s unique and idyllic location. It takes subtle cues from the surrounding landscape: its pure Highland water source and the Pictish ‘Z-rod’ carvings etched on the ancient Clach Biorach standing stone located on the distillery’s doorstep. A larger logo area and new label font has also been incorporated into the design to create greater on-shelf brand visibility.
Matthew Jamieson, Brand Manager for Balblair, added: “Our whisky isn’t changing: Balblair will always be a single malt Scotch whisky of premium quality, with a true Highland strength of character.
“We’re immensely proud of our new collection and confident that the flavour profiles, along with super-premium packaging, will reinvigorate Balblair and excite consumers. We look forward to sharing it with our growing, global community.”
The core collection – priced between £45 and £500 – launches in the UK on 28 March 2019, followed by other global markets including Russia, France, Germany and China from April 2019. It will be available online, and distributed exclusively through independent and specialist retail outlets.
For more information visit: www.balblair.com
Balblair age-stated core collection
Balblair 12-Year-Old (RRP £45)
• 46% abv, matured in American oak ex-bourbon and double-fired American oak casks
• Colour: Polished gold
• Aroma: Elegant bright lemon peel layered with creamy vanilla and crisp green apples
• Palate: Ground spices and dried orange slices enveloped in intense set honey sweetness
• Finish: Creamy and leathery with notes of sweet vanilla
Balblair 15-Year-Old (RRP £75)
• 46% abv, matured initially in American oak ex-bourbon casks, followed by first-fill Spanish oak butts
• Colour: Bright amber
• Aroma: Leatherwood honey and spicy gingerbread followed by juicy prunes and fresh lemon peel
• Palate: Velvety in texture, bursting with dark chocolate, tropical fruit and spices
• Finish: Long and mellow with notes of creamy vanilla and citrus
Balblair 18-Year-Old (RRP £120)
• 46% abv, matured initially in American oak ex-bourbon casks, followed by first-fill Spanish oak butts
• Colour: Oiled cedar
• Aroma: Rich toffee and baked pears shine bright against an elegant backdrop of new leather
• Palate: A masterful balance of juicy apricots, seasoned oak and vanilla custar
• Finish: Long and warming with chords of fresh spices and raisins
Balblair 25-Year-Old (RRP £500)
• 46% abv, matured initially in American oak ex-bourbon casks then reshaped in Oloroso Spanish oak
• Colour: Hot copper
• Aroma: Indulgent overripe apricots and dark liquorice stand out against polished oak and a touch of saddle wax
• Palate: Full-bodied with oily citrus, chocolate praline and a faint note of fresh tobacco leaf
• Finish: Warming with smooth chocolate and blood oranges
About the new packaging
The packaging for Balblair’s new collection was developed by drawing inspiration from the distillery’s rich heritage.
The new primary packaging retains Balblair’s iconic bottle shape, smooth like the pebbles in the Allt Dearg Burn, which supplies Balblair’s pure Highland water.
Influenced by the shape of previous Balblair label designs, the new brand logo takes the form of Struie Hill reflected in the water. The larger logo area is designed to provide greater visibility in the on and off trade.
The new label font is a contemporary adaption of the typeface used on the old sign at the distillery entrance, while the new brand symbol is inspired by the Pictish Z-rod etched on to the ancient Clach Biorach standing stone located right on the distillery’s doorstep.
On the back of the new bottle, there is an embossing of the Balblair Z-rod symbol and the year the distillery was established, 1790.
