Description
BALLANTINE’S VERY OLD 21Y 50CL
Brand Overview:
Ballantine’s stands as the world’s second best-selling Scotch whisky, with Johnnie Walker at the top.
During 1827 established by George Ballantine, the brand blends 50 single malts and four grain whiskies, drawing primarily from Speysiders Glenburgie and Miltonduff.
Currently owned by Pernod Ricard, Ballantine’s offers a broad range, spanning from NAS options like ‘Finest’ and ‘Limited’ to aged variants from 12 to 40 years.
21-Year-Old Expression:
Basically, introduced in 1993, the 21-year-old expression occupies a central position within Ballantine’s core aged range.
While recent bottlings feature a 40% ABV, older versions, including the 21-year-old ‘Very Old Scotch Whisky’ from the late 1990s, boast a higher ABV of 43%.
This edition comes in a blue ceramic decanter crafted by Wade Ceramics, a renowned UK pottery company. Notably, the Wade decanter was available in two sizes—70cl and 50cl.
Although production has ceased, you can still find both sizes at auctions, often at reasonable prices.
Tasting Notes:
Nose:
At first, delicate yet expressive, it starts with sweet orange segments, honey, marmalades, and preserves. Gentle mineral smoke adds a heavy citrus tang. Old wood and polish deepen the aroma, and sharp spicing—cloves, ginger, and salt—enhances complexity. A few drops of water reveal more smokiness and increase salinity.
Palate:
Then, rich and slightly oily, it opens with toffee and caramel, complemented by oranges, citrus peels, and berries. Spicing intensifies with cloves, nutmeg, and a salty tang, and sweet, heathery honey balances the bitterness. Smoke stays subtle, resembling cask char. Adding water introduces salted caramel and creaminess.
Finish:
In the end, the finish is long, with berry sweetness balanced by prickly bitterness.
Overall Impression:
As a result, the 21-year-old benefits significantly from its higher 43% ABV.
This uplift enhances the mouthfeel, providing a viscous and well-weighted texture while ensuring a clear definition of fruits, sugars, and spices.
Therefore, the blend proves exceedingly well-balanced and highly drinkable, representing a classic style effectively.
Consequently, it’s worth bookmarking on auction sites, as you might find it at a lower price compared to the current 21-year-old offering.
