
Balblair 12 Year Old Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Balblair · Balblair Distillery
Balblair's tall copper pot stills are designed to maximize reflux, and the result is a spirit of unusual purity and fruit-forward character for the Highlands. This 12-year-old balances accessibility with genuine complexity. Non-chill-filtered and naturally colored, it rewards attentive nosing.
Kit Aromas
Nose
Orchard fruit and honey dominate the first impression, with fresh peach and a delicate floral rosewater note. Underneath, there's a gentle malty cereal sweetness and a whisper of vanilla from ex-bourbon cask influence.
Palate
Silky and well-structured. Green apple and peach transition into warming clove spice and a biscuity malt core. The mid-palate delivers a pleasant butteriness that speaks to the quality of copper distillation at Balblair.
Finish
Medium, clean, and slightly drying with lingering honey and a faint woody warmth.
- Region
- Northern Highlands
- Cask Type
- Ex-bourbon and ex-sherry
- Peat Level (PPM)
- Unpeated
- Distillation
- Double distilled in tall copper pot stills
- Maturation
- Ex-bourbon American oak casks and ex-sherry butts
- Chill-Filtered
- Non-chill filtered
Cocktail Suggestion
Highland Peach Fizz — 2 oz Balblair 12 · 0.75 oz fresh lemon juice · 0.5 oz honey syrup · 2 oz sparkling water · Shake whisky, lemon, and honey with ice, strain into a highball, top with sparkling water.
Food Pairing
Seared scallops with brown butter and sage
Founded in 1790 in the far north of the Highlands, Balblair is one of Scotland's oldest working distilleries, where exceptionally tall copper pot stills and unhurried production create a house style celebrated for its fruit-driven purity.
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