I have been busy, but not too busy to still continue to explore whisky. There’s just been no time for documentation, and not much inspiration to write about a bottle, until I finished Balblair 1990 2nd release, and decided to reminisce about this beauty. I have come to the conclusion that it is silly, after having had literally hundreds of different whiskies, to continue to give “82/100” to a forgettable, but inoffensive dram. My new rating system will be Michelin inspired. Forgettable whiskies will score a 0 – and most whiskies are forgettable. Unforgettable whiskies will score 1. Unimaginably good whiskies will score 2. Unparalleled transcendent whiskies will score 3. And, to fairly satisfy the 5 star system this app uses, I will compare how much I think a bottle should cost, and how much the bottle actually costs, and give a rating based on that. Balblair 1990 is three stars. I fucking love this whisky. People are upset that Balblair has modernized their range, and is now selling a 25 year old for $500. Balblair has consistently been one of the best distilleries in the past 5-10 years, right up there with the likes of Springbank, but they have always undervalued their own worth, and they are just now charging the fair-market price for their whiskies now. This Balblair 1990 is 24-25 years old, and it was selling for $150! There is actual bourbon influence on the nose. For most scotches, “bourbon influence,” means a light “breakfast” whisky where the malt dominates. This smells like a full-bodied fine bourbon, rich tobacco and cherries, Pappy Van Winkle; but this is balanced with a single malt presence that is secondary, but still significant. On the palate, it goes from bourbon to sherry, and that is the right order of flavors; starting with American oak toffee and vanilla sweetness, progressing to raisins and dark fruits, and finishing with cocoa, leather, and tobacco. A 25 year old Balblair is better than a 25 year old Springbank, or a 25 year old Macallan, or a 25 year Balvenie. They deserve to start charging whatever they want. Score: *** (unparalleled transcendent) How much does a bottle cost: $150-180 (may no longer be available) How much do I think a bottle is worth: $500