Reviewing a lineup of Balblair & Old Pulteney Single Malt scotch is a treat, especially when done multiple times. It's like revisiting old friends and still uncovering something new and different each time.
It’s not often that I get to taste the same lineup, presented by the same person, twice in a span of weeks.
I went to a Balblair & Old Pulteney single malt scotch tasting hosted by the North Shore Whisky Club and presented by Nick Taylor. It was a pleasant evening, and I even got to pair a dessert for the group (more on that later).
Not too long ago, I went to a Whisky Wednesday at Gordon’s DTX for a (wait for it…) Balblair & Old Pulteney single malt scotch tasting presented by Nick Taylor.
Coincidence? I think not.
Tasting once, tasting twice
Actually, some of this lineup I’ve even reviewed before.
What struck me as I was comparing my notes from the two tastings was the (mostly) consistent nature of my descriptions.
Now to some, that observation wouldn’t be remarkable, but I like to think that as I gain experience tasting whisky, I’m getting more discerning. I've come a long way since starting this journey, and that, to me, is growth.
I’ll let you decide…I’ll present both sets of tasting notes for the repeats below. Time to raise a glass!
Balblair & Old Pulteney Single Malt Scotch Tasting
Hosted by the North Shore Whisky Club, presented by Nick Taylor, November 10, 2018 and at Gordon’s DTX, also presented by Nick Taylor, September 26, 2018
Balblair 03
Tasting Notes
Nov 10, 2018
- Nose: honey, vanilla, floral, cream
- Taste: soft toffee, vanilla ice cream
- Finish: light white pepper, soft cinnamon and nutmeg
- Comments: nice & easy, sweet yet softly spicy; a couple drops of water softens the white pepper and brings out a little herbal quality, mossy
Sept 26, 2018
- Nose: plums, honey, dried flowers, brown sugar
- Taste: thick, soft, baking spices, clover honey, plums, a little bit mossy
- Finish: fades to soft baking spices and brown sugar, lingers long with light herbs
- Comments: sweet and approachable
Balblair 05
Tasting Notes
- Nose: oaky, toffee brittle, moss, vanilla fudge, leather, poached pears
- Taste: enters soft light brown sugar, leather, wood, bright hay, pine, light body
- Finish: fades slowly, hay and sunshine, bright pears
- Comments: no pepper, very bright and clean, has character
Balblair 99
Tasting Notes
Nov 10, 2018
- Nose: vanilla, honey, plums, dark brown sugar, raisins, golden syrup
- Taste: sweet and rich, med body, plums and pears, caramel syrup
- Finish: caramel and plums lasts and lasts, light burn at the back of the throat
- Comments: a wonderful balance of cooked fruit, light orchard fruits, caramel syrup; very easy to drink, so pleasant...excellent!
Sept 26, 2018
- Nose: prunes, flowers, caramel candy, vanilla fudge, lightly hay
- Taste: thick, soft caramel candy, cooked prunes, baking spices of cinnamon and allspice, white pepper
- Finish: fades to light menthol, cinnamon and cloves
- Comments: less sweet, more straightforward, Autumn spices rather than candy, very good!
Balblair 90
Tasting Notes
- Nose: soft aroma, plum jams, creme brûlée, burnt sugar
- Taste: rich and oily, sweet full caramel candy, some cinnamon
- Finish: doesn’t linger, the sweetness closes down to warmth and cloves
- Comments: like drinking cooled caramel, rich flavor of caramel and jam
anCnoc 12yr
Tasting Notes
- Nose: Flowers, honey, clover, citrus (oranges, lemons, limes), light pine
- Taste: Light and bright, citrus curd, potpourri, medium body
- Finish: Floral perfume, lemon curd, ends in pine
Comments
Old Pulteney 12yr
Tasting Notes
Nov 10, 2018
- Nose: vanilla, ocean breezes, nutmeg, dark plums, lemon zest
- Taste: vanilla, salted popcorn, lemon zest, barley sugar
- Finish: menthol rises, fades to softly salty sweetness
- Comments: distinctive with salty and sweet
Sept 26, 2018
- Nose: light ocean breezes, vanilla, orange zest, light brown sugar
- Taste: thick and chewy, leather, dusty, caramel, light orange zest
- Finish: flavors fades fast, leaves cinnamon and caked salt behind
- Comments: body without a base, the savory flavor is intriguing, quite good
Old Pulteney 17yr
Tasting Notes
Nov 10, 2018
- I was busy serving dessert, so I missed this one
Sept 26, 2018
- Nose: green leaves, vanilla, cardamom
- Taste: very thick & chewy, strong vanilla fudge, cloves, soft white pepper
- Finish: fades fast, salted caramel sauce, cloves
- Comments: so thick you’re almost eating it
Adapting pie for a crowd
I adapted my Southern Brown Sugar Pie recipe to serve as Brown Sugar Pie Bars (aka slab pie) to serve a crowd. They worked beautifully, especially served with a dollop of whipped cream.
Final thoughts
Being able to sample lineups multiple times is like revisiting old friends, yet still uncovering something new and different each time.
I'm all for that type of visit!
I hope you like this review! If you've tried any of the expressions and have your own tasting notes, please leave a comment. Thanks!
Slainté! L’chaim! Cheers!
- Tammy
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