Balblair 2003 1st Release

Balblair's Johnny-come-lately is this offering, bottled at 10 years old, but packing a decent punch for its youthful demeanor. Purely from 2nd fill bourbon casks, there's no surprise that bourbon notes like vanilla, chocolate, and coconut come to the forefront on the nose. On the palate, there's an almost surprising amount of substance - while refreshing, this is not a light, shrinking violet of a whisky. Instead a rather full, oily mouthfeel yields milk chocolate, vanilla, pineapple, light citrus, and white pepper notes. Really quite pleasant.

It's surprisingly complex for a young whisky, and its flavour profile is sufficiently well-balanced - what begins as fruity somehow becomes quite floral at the finish. The orange zest and vanilla become ______ (lilac?), so that from beginning to end it's all satisfying. Not bad.

Just OK, had at Avis apartment