Ballantine's Finest

[Quaich1]

Poured my first dram ever of Ballantine's Finest today. Jim Murray gives this one a whopping rating of 96. This really is a brilliant blend. Here are my taste notes from today.

Color- Amber with a sheen
Body-Medium

Neat-

Nose: Fresh figs off the boat, citrus waves,orange marmelade, fruity ice wine, hint of prune nectar and vanilla bean.

Palate: Dried apricots, dark chocolate, burst of stewed rhubarb, velvety mouth feel. You can cut the flavors here like a fine fancy multi-layered cake to be savored and chewed slowly.

Finish: Long, dark fruit, the ebb and flow of mild spice, smoke, a touch of heat and "jewelled" peat, like a diamond lurking in the background, lovely.

This is a very worthy blend, different than Ballantine's 17 which I also really like. This one is like the ol' Mississpi steam boat pumping out character as it moves along.
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"Always carry a large flagon of whisky in case of snakebite and furthermore always carry a small snake."
W.C. Fields (1880-1946)

[James T]

The Ballantines Finest is a great blend, I think it is often overlooked here in the UK due to the fact that Chivas really dont promote it much here.

I agree, quite differnet fro the excellent Ballantines 17 but still and outstanding dram in its class.

[Brent CA]

Ballantines Finest is a regular of mine, probably the blended Scotch which lead me to Scotch single malt whisky. I have tasted the Finest 17. 21 and 30 and all are excellent.

[sorren]

although I have not had this I do have a bottle from the 60s so I might get another and compare them... it sounds like it might be worth a punt

[GBrough]

don't often go for blends, my go to is buchanan's 12 another diageo blend that is not advertised in the UK but sold and talked about in the States.
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The Laga 16.

It even tastes like an ashtray-WM