Ballantine's M 2000 Liqueur Staff Bottling

Ballantines Ballantine's Gold Seal 12 Year Old Special Reserve

My alphabetical order is a bit out of whack, but I'm going to try to (roughly) adhere to it as we go through these minis. This is a Ballantine's 12 Year Old, but the label is very different from the current bottling, with "Gold Seal" and "Special Reserve" on the label. And, again, we are at 43% rather than the current 40% ABV....

Score 87/100

Ballantines 17 Year Old

Some say the art of blending achieves the pinnacle of whisky perfection. Others say it's the single malt. I don't know who's right, but IMHO Ballantine's 17 is one of my favourite blends for my palate. The nose is always a delight. Citrusy lemon is always the starting point, pear drops, floral, creamy caramel, stem ginger, honey, slight volcanic...

Score 92/100

Ballantines Finest

This bottle was given to me as a gift from my mum, who managed to pick up a litre bottle fairly cheap on her way back from Spain. So I guess I shouldn't really complain about it! It's got a very light gold colour, almost yellow in the light of my room! The smell is powerful, but not really in a great way. I picked up an almost antiseptic aroma,...

Score 75/100

Ballantines 17 Year Old

I was going to save this for New Year's, but fuck it - I had to try it as soon as I got home (New Year's will be champagne, let's face it). This whisky is absolutely luxurious, and possibly the best blend I've ever had. Light honey amber colour, coats the glass nicely when you swirl. A lot in the nose: floral and citrusy, nutty and some peatiness...

Score 97/100