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Quaich1
Master Of Malts
Joined: 21 Apr 2012
Posts: 5749
Location: Ontario, Canada
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 Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2014 8:23 pm Post subject: Battle of the Blends- Ballantines's 17 & The Finest |
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I decided to do a head-to-head between Ballantine's 17 year and Ballantine's Finest, two of my favorite blends.
Ballantine's 17
Neat-
Nose: Turkish delight, mixed nuts, salted honey, rum & raisin ice cream, cream soda tones and a serving of banana cream pie.
Palate: Creamy, fruit, spice, mocha, espresso crema, and bold coffee.
Finish: Long, mint, mocha and mild dark chocolate.
Ballantine's Finest
Neat-
Nose: Butter pecan ice cream, parfume, fruity, tropical peels, hint of peppermint, spicy fruit cocktail and pungent summer flowers.
Palate: Honey sweet, syrupy, chocolate, some mild oak and spice.
Finish: Lingering, flashes of maple syrup and spicy hot chocolate.
Comments: Rather than a "battle" between two blends, I see them as being more on the same side and "friends" if you will. The 17 Year is a beautifully balanced Scottish blend three years shy of 2 decades and it flaunts its class very well. The Finest oozes quality and character which is saying something for a young scotch.
_________________
"Always carry a large flagon of whisky in case of snakebite and furthermore always carry a small snake."
W.C. Fields (1880-1946) |
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Whisky Dog
Master Of Malts
Joined: 09 Apr 2014
Posts: 708
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| Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2014 12:44 am Post subject: |
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| The Ballantine's 17 is a favourite of mine, one of the few blends that could go head to head with a number of single malts and come out on top. |
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Andy M
Master Of Malts
Joined: 09 Jul 2007
Posts: 1212
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| Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2014 10:25 pm Post subject: |
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| I have tried the 17, 21 and 30 year old head to head and they were all outstanding. For quality for your £ the 17 is hard to beat but the 30 is superb. |
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Newkophile
Single Malt Member
Joined: 01 Sep 2013
Posts: 22
Location: Boynton Beach, Florida
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| Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2014 7:01 am Post subject: |
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| In terms of price, the Finest and the 17 are miles apart, the 17 being roughly four times the amount, what I would pay for a quality single malt. A more apt comparison I would think is the Finest vs the next step up, i.e., the Ballantine12, a blend that I have enjoyed. |
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Quaich1
Master Of Malts
Joined: 21 Apr 2012
Posts: 5749
Location: Ontario, Canada
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| Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2014 11:21 am Post subject: |
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| Newkophile wrote: | | In terms of price, the Finest and the 17 are miles apart, the 17 being roughly four times the amount, what I would pay for a quality single malt. A more apt comparison I would think is the Finest vs the next step up, i.e., the Ballantine12, a blend that I have enjoyed. |
I disagree. The Ballantine's Finest has a rating of 96. The Ballantine's 17 has a rating of 97.5 while the Ballantine's 12 has a rating of 84.5 going by Jim Murray's reviews which in this case I completely support. Comparisons should be made for aroma and taste and satisfaction of the overall experience and not simply by how much a dram costs. In this case, the 12 is at the bottom of these 3 IMO though it is a pleasant dram in its own right.
_________________
"Always carry a large flagon of whisky in case of snakebite and furthermore always carry a small snake."
W.C. Fields (1880-1946) |
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Bookie
Master Of Malts
Joined: 15 Sep 2008
Posts: 945
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| Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2014 2:10 pm Post subject: |
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| Whisky Dog wrote: | | The Ballantine's 17 is a favourite of mine, one of the few blends that could go head to head with a number of single malts and come out on top. |
Totally agree. |
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Newkophile
Single Malt Member
Joined: 01 Sep 2013
Posts: 22
Location: Boynton Beach, Florida
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| Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2014 3:24 am Post subject: |
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| Quaich1 wrote: | | Newkophile wrote: | | In terms of price, the Finest and the 17 are miles apart, the 17 being roughly four times the amount, what I would pay for a quality single malt. A more apt comparison I would think is the Finest vs the next step up, i.e., the Ballantine12, a blend that I have enjoyed. |
I disagree. The Ballantine's Finest has a rating of 96. The Ballantine's 17 has a rating of 97.5 while the Ballantine's 12 has a rating of 84.5 going by Jim Murray's reviews which in this case I completely support. Comparisons should be made for aroma and taste and satisfaction of the overall experience and not simply by how much a dram costs. In this case, the 12 is at the bottom of these 3 IMO though it is a pleasant dram in its own right. |
While you may agree with Jim Murray, I still submit that comparing - and I'm quoting Total Wine & Liquor prices where I live - the $19 Finest with the $110 B17 makes absolutely no sense. Who in their right mind is going to pay nearly 6 times as much for the 97.5 rated B!7 when the vastly cheaper Finest comes in slightly lower at 96? I'm certain that Ballantines cannot be too happy with Murray's ratings in terms of positioning the B!7 as a vastly superior blend.
While TW&L does not carry the B12, I can get it at various local liquor stores for anywhere from $26 to $29. So the more sensible comparison is the Finest with the B12 and if you and anyone else chooses the Finest, OK, no problem. BTW, I am at a loss to understand how a cheap, NAS blend can score that highly. Guess I gotta try it. |
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Quaich1
Master Of Malts
Joined: 21 Apr 2012
Posts: 5749
Location: Ontario, Canada
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| Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2014 11:55 am Post subject: |
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| Newkophile wrote: | | Quaich1 wrote: | | Newkophile wrote: | | In terms of price, the Finest and the 17 are miles apart, the 17 being roughly four times the amount, what I would pay for a quality single malt. A more apt comparison I would think is the Finest vs the next step up, i.e., the Ballantine12, a blend that I have enjoyed. |
I disagree. The Ballantine's Finest has a rating of 96. The Ballantine's 17 has a rating of 97.5 while the Ballantine's 12 has a rating of 84.5 going by Jim Murray's reviews which in this case I completely support. Comparisons should be made for aroma and taste and satisfaction of the overall experience and not simply by how much a dram costs. In this case, the 12 is at the bottom of these 3 IMO though it is a pleasant dram in its own right. |
While you may agree with Jim Murray, I still submit that comparing - and I'm quoting Total Wine & Liquor prices where I live - the $19 Finest with the $110 B17 makes absolutely no sense. Who in their right mind is going to pay nearly 6 times as much for the 97.5 rated B!7 when the vastly cheaper Finest comes in slightly lower at 96? I'm certain that Ballantines cannot be too happy with Murray's ratings in terms of positioning the B!7 as a vastly superior blend.
While TW&L does not carry the B12, I can get it at various local liquor stores for anywhere from $26 to $29. So the more sensible comparison is the Finest with the B12 and if you and anyone else chooses the Finest, OK, no problem. BTW, I am at a loss to understand how a cheap, NAS blend can score that highly. Guess I gotta try it. |
The price ratio you mention is incorrect if you apply it to the Canadian market. The 17 Year is 3.3 times more money per 750ml bottle than the Finest here in Ontario, not nearly 6 times more expensive that you mention in the States. Furthermore, hard to collate your opinion when you haven't even tried the dram. Each to their own I guess.
_________________
"Always carry a large flagon of whisky in case of snakebite and furthermore always carry a small snake."
W.C. Fields (1880-1946) |
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Carson
Master Of Malts
Joined: 01 Jun 2009
Posts: 468
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| Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2014 2:34 pm Post subject: |
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| Here in Scotland we pay around £20 for the Ballantines Finest and £45 for the 17 year old which i would say is a fair increase for the jump in age and quality. Both can also be found on offer from time to time. |
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Newkophile
Single Malt Member
Joined: 01 Sep 2013
Posts: 22
Location: Boynton Beach, Florida
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| Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2014 4:51 pm Post subject: |
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| As I said, guess I gotta try the Finest. Obviously I do have a bias against cheap blends because none have ever pleased me, e.g., JW Red, basic Dewar's, Teachers, etc. But I will try the Finest and perhaps it will beat out the B12 which I have enjoyed in the past. And I'll do a blindfold test to make sure that my bias is corrected for. |
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