Rating

This section of the blog features whiskies tasted. Each whisky is rated and scored. The scoring is scaled to a maximum score totalling 100 points. A poor rating is 60 and below and will be something to avoid.

Ballantine's Finest Blended Scotch whisky


Total Score: 89

Nose: Deep with hints of spice and butterscotch
Taste: Dry and sweet balanced with tones of apples, vanilla and a  hint of smoke
Finish: Well rounded and full
Balance: Floral finish. Sophisticated after taste.
Strength: 43% ABV (86.0 proof)

Synonymous with the finest blended Scotch whisky it is little wonder then that Ballantine's is the world's leading premium blended Scotch whisky worldwide.

The Ballantine's range is the most extensive in the world and includes Ballantine's Finest (photo left), 12, 17, 21, 30 year old and the 40 year old (100 bottles of 40 year old are released per year). There are several special releases as well.

Owner: Chivas Brothers a division of Pernod Ricard.

The Glenlivet Nadurra 16 year old


Photo copyright owner: Mark Backhouse
Total Score: 95

Nose: Sweet Vanilla.
Taste: Sweet, creamy, wood, vanilla, honey & silky mouth feel.
Finish: Warm, long, rich texture.
Balance: English toffee, Belgium dark chocolate, hazelnut, marzipan, vanilla and rose petals leading to a finish of considerable length and complexity
Strength: 55.1% ABV (101.2 proof)

"Nadurra" in Gaelic means natural, hence this natural expression of 'The Glenlivet' is 'Natural'. The Glenlivet Nadurra comes straight from the cask to the bottle. That means that there is no chill-filtering out any micro particles, and definitely no addition of water to bring it down to bottling strength. You get The Glenlivet Nadurra at whatever strength it comes out of the cask after ageing for 16 years in that year depending on the climate. My bottle of The Glenlivet Nadurra 16 year old is at 55.1% ABV (110.2 proof for our American friends).

Owner: Chivas Brothers a division of Pernod Ricard.