Ballantine's 12 Year

Low expectations have the advantage of leaving room for pleasant surprises, as happened with this 12-year-old Ballantine's. The nose is 'Auchentoshan + X': floral, light and fragrant with notes of tinned fruits, marzipan and soft spices. Certainly not bad for a blended Scotch! Heather honey, parsley and a spicy touch of oak dominate the palate, very 'smooth' although I hate to use the word. This whisky does not benefit from additional water. As with most blends, the finish doesn't linger and remains rather vague. Still, it is almost better than JW Black Label. RATING: 3.0/5.0 stars ≙ 80 pts → AVERAGE