There are countless excellent whiskies on the market today, but some have an impact far beyond their typical audience. The Balblair 89 is one of those whiskies. This small batch release from the remote Balblair distillery in the Highlands has been heralded by many as the best single malt whisky in the world. But how has a relatively obscure bottling managed to achieve such a high level of acclaim? Let’s take a closer look at this unique Scotch whisky and find out more…
What is Balblair 89?
Balblair is a distillery that has been making whisky since the late 18th century. It is far from the most well-known distillery in Scotland, though, as its remote location in the northeast of the country means that it is almost always overshadowed by the much larger (and more famous) whiskies from places like Islay and Speyside. Balblair’s whisky has never been released in large quantities and is rarely available outside of Scotland. It’s one of the reasons why this world-class whisky has remained so under the radar for so long.
Balblair 89 is the name of the most famous whisky that has ever come out of this distillery. It is bottled at cask strength and is made only in extremely limited quantities. It is widely considered to be one of the best whiskies in the world, regardless of whether you like your Scotch neat, with ice, or with a drop of water. If you can get your hands on a bottle, you’ll understand why it’s so highly thought of.
A Brief History of Balblair
Balblair is one of the oldest distilleries in Scotland. It was built near the northern coast of Scotland on the Cromarty Firth, which is a body of water that separates the Highlands from the rest of the country. It was first documented in 1789 but likely started producing whisky much earlier. Balblair was bought by the Macrae family, who has owned the distillery ever since. In the 1920s, Balblair was producing around 6,000 gallons of whisky a year, which was a good amount for a distillery of its size. Balblair was never a large distillery and was only ever used to produce single malt.
The owners of Balblair have always been committed to making a very traditional style of whisky, which is one of the reasons why Balblair is so often overlooked compared to the more heavily-promoted whiskies from the larger distilleries. Balblair experienced a number of distilling hiatuses after the Second World War but has been operational ever since 2005.
Tasting Notes
Balblair is an unpeated whisky, which is a very rare thing in Scotland. This means that its flavour profile is going to be very different from the more common whiskies from the Highlands and Islands. The Balblair 89 is bottled at cask strength, so it has a very strong flavour that is best sipped neat. It has been distilled for around 25 years, which makes it a very mature whisky. This is one of the reasons why it has such a strong taste, as well as its high ABV of 49%.
The flavour of Balblair 89 is rich, fruity and peppery. It’s a very unusual single malt and one that really stands out from the crowd. This is partly due to its high ABV, but it also has something to do with the fact that Balblair uses unpeated barley. This makes it a very unusual whisky, but also an extremely rich one.
Why is Balblair 89 So Good?
As we’ve already mentioned, Balblair is a very unusual whisky, even by Scottish standards. It is made entirely from barley that has not been peated, which is pretty rare. It also ages for much longer than most whiskies, which means that it has a much stronger flavour. The Balblair 89 is bottled at cask strength, meaning that it has a very strong flavour. It’s also incredibly fruity and peppery, which are two flavours that are extremely rare in single-malt Scotch whisky.
These characteristics make the Balblair 89 a very unusual whisky. Balblair is so good because it offers something that is rarely found in single malts from Scotland. It is a very rich spirit, with a flavour that is almost entirely driven by its high ABV. This might not be to everyone’s taste, but there’s no denying that the Balblair 89 is special.
Where to Buy Balblair 89 in Sydney?
The Balblair 89 is an extremely rare whisky and is almost impossible to find outside of Scotland. As it is bottled at cask strength, it is also very difficult to export, which means that it is unlikely to ever leave the country. If you are able to get your hands on a bottle, you’ll be tasting one of the best single malts ever made.
Balblair 89 single malt scotch whisky is among the rarest whiskies available at Webster’s bar in Newtown. We are constantly receiving new, limited-edition spirits here. Check out our Instagram page to find out when the most exclusive world whiskies arrive. These whiskies are often available in limited quantities and for a limited time.
Final Words
If you are a whisky connoisseur, then you will have heard of the Balblair 89. This is one of the most famous whiskies in the world and one that just about every whisky expert has tried. It is bottled at cask strength and has a very unusual flavour profile that makes it stand out from the crowd. It is a very rich whisky, with a flavour that is almost entirely driven by its high ABV. This is a very unusual single malt, but it is also extremely good. If you get the chance to taste it, you’ll understand why it has become so highly thought of.
Visit us now and have a taste of this special whisky.
