Balblair 12 Year Old Discovery Gordon & Macphail

A few years ago Gordon & Macphail introduced the Discovery series in which they bottle affordable malts at drinking strength. This 12 years old Balblair matured on a bourbon cask. My buddy Pat sent me a sample.

Lovely spring fresh nose on apples and pineapple. Green grass and a mild minerality (oh, I do love my alliterations). Citrus and liquorice. Floral too. But simple at the same time.

It’s is rather bittersweet on the palate with lots of tannins from the oak that completely overpower the soft, fruity notes from the nose. White pepper is louder than the fruit and that is a pity. It loses its spring freshness that the nose promised. Midpalate it turns quite floral, on its way to soapy, which is a bit of a let-down

The finish is rather short, begins sweet an peppery, to end quite bitter and dry.

Around 50 EUR, which is a fair price. A modern card players’ whisky. Thanks, Pat.

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