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Balblair Distillery Unveils Four New Vintage Scotch Whiskies For American Market

One of Scotland's oldest distilleries brings four new whiskies, some as old as 1983, to American whiskey drinkers.
  • Joshua Sparks, a Chicago-based whisky enthusiast and writer.
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Editor’s Note: The Whiskey Wash welcomes Joshua Sparks to our writing team!

Vintage is a vintage is a vintage is a vintage — quite literally in Balblair’s simultaneous release of four vintage expressions, a first in the U.S. for the oldest working distillery in the Scottish Highlands. The unprecedented release spans 20 years, featuring vintages from 1983, 1990, 1999, and 2003, which will run between $70 and $330 at general suggested retail prices.

And vintage is what Balblair does — in fact, it’s all Balblair does — marking its bottles with the year the whisky was laid down for distillation as opposed to using the common age statement method. According to the folks at Balblair, the distillery is distinct as the sole Scottish whisky maker with a vintage-only policy. Distillery manager John MacDonald said in a statement these new vintages will “offer exceptional options for whisky fans across the spectrum.”

Balblair Single Malt Scotch Whisky

“Each of these whiskies has its own unique nuances,” MacDonald added, no doubt referring to the varied aging methods. The 1983 and 2003 whiskies spent time in American ex-bourbon barrels, “which lend citrus fruits, apricots and honey to the nose,” soaking up “notes of orange, lemon, honey and spice” and providing “a long lasting finish.” The 1990 and 1999 vintages also lived in the American oak, but moved into Spanish sherry butts, lending to what the distillery calls a “spicy and sweet” palate with “aromas of honey and green apple.”

All four whiskies are bottled at a friendly 46%, and will cost $70, $90, $140 and $330 — the older the pricier — and you should be able to find all four in some retail markets now. Balblair touts that it was recently named the Highland Distillery of the Year at the New York International Spirits competition — bringing hometown pride to the “ancient village” of Edderton that the distillery calls home.

Joshua M. Sparks

Joshua Sparks, residing in Chicago, is a dedicated whisky enthusiast, sampling a diverse range of expressions whenever possible. In his professional life, he serves as a writer for Courthouse News Service. His hobbies include scriptwriting, watching films, and of course, exploring the world of whisky. He is currently delving into smoky single malts while immersing himself in the French New Wave cinema.

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