Ballantine's 7-year-old American Barrel / 40% / 0.7l

Ballantine's has been the second most popular Scotch whisky for years, second only to Johnnie Walker (it closed 2018 with sales of 7.4 million cases).

The latest Ballantine release in 2020 is the 7-year-old Bourbon Barrel Finish. Supposedly, as early as 1872, when the minimum 3-year ageing rule was a distant future, George Ballantine was offering a 7-year-old whisky. The key to the blend is Glenburgie, Miltonduff, Glentauchers and Tormore, as well as grain whisky from the Strathclyde Distillery; the Ballantine presented here was finished in fresh bourbon barrels.

Nose: sweet, slightly fruity, cereals, honey, vanilla, caramel, pears, apples, a pinch of white pepper and some oak.

Taste: fruity and cereal, pears, bananas, vanilla, brown sugar, cereals, honey, a pinch of cinnamon and a trace of peat.

Finish: medium long, sweet, with notes of vanilla, caramel, baked apples and a touch of oak.