Balblair Revamps Line From Vintages To Age Statements, Brings To America

Highland whisky distillery Balblair revamped its line-up from what had been vintage statement whiskies to age statements last year, and now the company has announced that their new age-statement collection of single malt Scotch whiskies will be available in the United States in time for the holiday season. The revamped portfolio includes four whiskies, each showcasing the upmost quality, all of which retain the distillery’s unmistakable signature character. The new age-statement collection replaces all existing Balblair expressions.

The core collection includes:

• 12-Year-Old (SRP, $69.99): matured in American oak ex-bourbon and double-fired American oak casks, with notes of dried orange, ground spices and sweet vanilla.
• 15-Year-Old (SRP, $119.99): matured initially in American oak ex-bourbon casks, followed by first-fill Spanish oak butts, with notes of dark chocolate, tropical fruit and creamy vanilla.
• 18-Year-Old (SRP, $209.99):  matured initially in American oak ex-bourbon casks, followed by first-fill Spanish oak butts, with notes of juicy apricots, vanilla custard and raisins.
• 25-Year-Old (SRP, $699.99):  matured initially in American oak ex-bourbon casks then reshaped in Oloroso Spanish oak, with notes of oily citrus, chocolate praline, fresh tobacco leaf and blood oranges.

In a move away from the distillery’s recent ‘vintage-only’ approach, the launch of this collection signals a new era for Balblair. While each expression offers its own unique appeal, the series as a whole stays true to Balblair’s house style, following a gentle and considered approach with its focus firmly on quality over quantity – an attribute Balblair has become renowned for since the distillery was established in 1790.

“As one of the oldest working distilleries in the Scottish Highlands, Balblair has a long and rich history of crafting premium single malt Scotch whisky,” said John MacDonald, Distillery Manager at Balblair. “We are proud of our heritage and we will continue to honor our centuries-old traditions, but we also look forward in a quiet pursuit of perfection.”

On the new series, MacDonald also commented, “Our new collection is intrinsically linked to our heritage and is testament to the place and the people behind our whisky, while being emblematic of our ‘True Highland Spirit’.”

Inspired by Balblair’s rich past, the packaging for the new collection is reflective of the distillery’s unique and idyllic location. It takes subtle cues from the surrounding landscape: its pure Highland water source and the Pictish ‘Z-rod’ carvings etched on the ancient Clach Biorach standing stone located on the distillery’s doorstep. A larger logo area and new label font has also been incorporated into the design to create greater on-shelf brand visibility.

“Our whisky hasn’t changed: Balblair will always be a single malt Scotch whisky of premium quality, and remain true to its renowned character, “ said Laura Young, Brand Manager for Balblair. “The updated collection, complete with a new range of age statements and super-premium packaging, is a testament to the dedicated distillers who patiently craft our award-winning Highland whisky.”