Review #224: Balblair 2005 SMWS 11 Year 70.16 "Mellow Drama"
This was aged in a custom virgin oak barrel, whatever that means. It is 197 bottles so I am guessing that it was about the size of an American Standard Barrel. I don't know much about the Balblair distillery except they do their releases by vintages instead of age statements. Though, I think I saw them announce the end to that.
Color - Pale Gold
Nose - Lemonheads, vanilla pods, cake frosting, honey, korean pears, wild flowers
Palate - Malt, caramel,
Finish - Medium - Malt, lemons, pepper, allspice, brown sugar,
Overall - 5.5 - The nose on this is very nice. While starting off just a lemon mess on first passing it opens up nicely. Then it becomes pretty basic on the palate, very basic. The finish is nice enough. I played around with water a little bit but it didn't rally change much. It comes out as nice and drinkable, but not complex or exciting. I will enjoy having had this dram but I am content not to have bought the bottle. "Mellow" is fitting but I don't see any drama with this bottle.
Past Balblair Reviews
Balblair 1999 16 year (Blind)
Past Balblair Reviews
Balblair 1999 16 year (Blind)
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Rating system is price influenced as it is based on my shopping decisions when buying a bottle.
10 Best in Show
9 Great Dram for Special Occasions
8 Worthy of consistent spot in my collection
7 Worth picking up a bottle if in the mood
6 I would buy a bottle if it went on sale
5.5 I really enjoyed but it will never be priced at where I would buy a bottle
5.5 I really enjoyed but it will never be priced at where I would buy a bottle
5 I would drink it happily if offered
4 I would drink it if offered on the rocks
3 Maybe some soda will make this potable
2 I'll Pass
1 Toilet cleaner
Inclusive Ratings
Overall 6.1
Standard Deviation 0.92
Skew 0.66
Kurtosis -0.16
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