Balblair Scotch Debuts New Age Statement Collection in U.S

The new age statement line from Balblair is now available in America.

The new age statement collection of single malt Scotch whiskies from Highland distillery Balblair is available in the U.S. this holiday season.

The revamped portfolio was first unveiled in 2019 and includes four whiskies. The new age statement collection replaces all existing Balblair expressions. With company-provided tasting notes, the core collection includes: 

  • 12-Year-Old (SRP: $69.99 per 750-ml. bottle): matured in American oak ex-bourbon and double-fired American oak casks, with notes of dried orange, ground spices and sweet vanilla
  • 15-Year-Old (SRP: $119.99): matured initially in American oak ex-bourbon casks, followed by first-fill Spanish oak butts, with notes of dark chocolate, tropical fruit and creamy vanilla
  • 18-Year-Old (SRP: $209.99): matured initially in American oak ex-bourbon casks, followed by first-fill Spanish oak butts, with notes of juicy apricots, vanilla custard and raisins
  • 25-Year-Old (SRP: $699.99): matured initially in American oak ex-bourbon casks then reshaped in Oloroso Spanish oak, with notes of oily citrus, chocolate praline, fresh tobacco leaf and blood oranges

This is a move away from the distillery’s recent ‘vintage-only’ approach.

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“As one of the oldest working distilleries in the Scottish Highlands, Balblair has a long and rich history of crafting premium single malt Scotch whisky,” says John MacDonald, distillery manager at Balblair. “We are proud of our heritage and we will continue to honor our centuries-old traditions, but we also look forward in a quiet pursuit of perfection.” 

“Our new collection is intrinsically linked to our heritage and is testament to the place and the people behind our whisky, while being emblematic of our ‘True Highland Spirit’,” he adds. 

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Inspired by Balblair’s history, the packaging takes cues from the surrounding landscape: the distillery’s Highland water source and the Pictish ‘Z-rod’ carvings etched on the ancient Clach Biorach standing on the distillery’s doorstep. A larger logo area and new label font are also incorporated into the design to create greater on-shelf brand visibility, the company says.

 “Our whisky hasn’t changed: Balblair will always be a single malt Scotch whisky of premium quality, and remain true to its renowned character, “ says Laura Young, brand manager for Balblair. “The updated collection, complete with a new range of age statements and super-premium packaging, is a testament to the dedicated distillers who patiently craft our award-winning Highland whisky.” 

The Balblair core collection is now available in the U.S. from the brand’s new U.S. importer, Hotaling & Co. Currently distributed across eight states (CA, CO, IL  MA, NH, NJ, NY and TX), consumers can find the whiskies online and at retailers in each market.

Beginning in 2021, Balblair will expand into additional markets.

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