Nose: Fine old oak and citrus oils (orange, grapefruit, lime). Dried fruits, very mild spice notes (cinnamon, clove, nutmeg) and some floral/honeyed notes. Water opens the whisky well making the aromas bloom, cutting the alcohol presence (which is mild to begin with anyway) but not damaging the profile too much. If anything it emphasizes the oak cask and citrus. Palate: Fruity and soft with apricots, plums, sweet orange and dry sherry in the arrival. Baking spices and some tangy tannin show up in the development but this just adds complexity and balance without veering into bitterness. Sweetness re-emerges in the later development together with a slight eucalyptus note, and the sweetness is emphasized by a dash of water. The texture is good but not amazing. Finish: Medium/Long. Fruity, oaky and mildly spicy. This is the third bottle of three vintage Balblair expressions I have opened recently and it is the least impressive of the triumvirate. However in the august company of the stunning 1991/2018 and the excellent 1989/2010, that means very little. The 1991 is like Van Gogh’s “Starry Night” and the 1989 his “Sunflowers”. In comparison this is 'merely' the “Bedroom in Arles”. There is a definite quality of youth in comparison to the two other whiskies, but it is an expressive and energetic youth, and not brash callowness. If tasted in comparison to much younger whiskies this would certainly seem more mature. This is also the only one of the three Balblair whiskies that I would definitely recommend reducing, as a dash of water develops it while taking nothing away, bringing forth sweetness and adding complexity. “Very Good” : 86/100 (4 stars)