But something has changed since Murray chose it, because the “new” Ballantine’s 17 year old isn’t like that. What used to be bottled at 43% ABV has been silently reduced to 40% ABV. Still, Murray has decided that the new version is the best blend in 2020. We’ll see. The Service has been prepared by us solely for information purposes to Members and the Service is based on information we consider reliable and we obtain the contents of the Service from a number of different third party sources (including Contributions), but we do not endorse, support, represent, warrant or guarantee the completeness, truthfulness, accuracy, or reliability of the Services and any information therein. Each and every Member must be of legal drinking age in its country of residence to be allowed to use the Service. If no such law exists in a Member’s country of residence, the Member has to be over 21 years old to use the Service. We have the right to ask you to provide proof of your age and/or to provide further identification to prevent underage usage and/or for any other legal or legitimate purpose. By using the Service, and by creating an account you represent, warrant and confirm that you are of legal age.

Let’s leave behind all the fuss around the new Ballantine’s Light (which I’ll come to soon for The Whiskey Reviewer, and -#spoileralert- I didn’t like it), there’s more in Ballantine’s than their Finest or their 12 year old. In fact, there is a Ballantine’s 17 Year Old in their range that doesn’t often come up in conversations. You are responsible for all activities through your account. You are responsible for the accuracy of the information you provide to us in relation to your account, and for updating it where necessary. You are not allowed to create multiple accounts. We may terminate or temporarily suspend your account to protect you, ourselves or our partners from (suspected) identity theft or other (suspected) fraudulent (e.g. false, misleading, deceptive) activity. You have the obligation to keep your login credentials confidential. You shall not authorize any others to use or access your account. In 2006, Sandy Hyslop was appointed as Ballantine's Master Blender – the 5th Master Blender in Ballantine's 180-year history. [ citation needed] Products [ edit ] Five of Ballantine's whiskies, in a photo released by Pernod Ricard Ballantine’s 17 is a blend of 40 malt and grain whiskies. Among them, some of the single malts that are at the heart of Ballantine’s: Glenburgie, Glentauchers and Miltonduff. The blend ages in American oak, ex-bourbon barrels.Our Service is an online platform which provides Members with information (e.g. bottle facts, market-indices, market values and prices) on (mostly) whisky and allows Members to add information to the platform. We do not sell, nor does the Service provide any option to buy, any alcoholic products.

In the glass, Ballantine’s 17 is caramel-colored. On the nose, it highlights toasted oak and vanilla notes. There is a sweet touch of caramel and milk chocolate, but also some old leather notes. White coffee comes next, with cereal and biscuits. A small memory of lightly smoked malt. Ballantine's produces a range of seven expressions with various characteristics and age statements: [ citation needed]Ballantine's is a brand of blended Scotch whisky produced by the Chivas Brothers subsidiary of Pernod Ricard in Dumbarton, Scotland. Ballantine’s 17 is a creamy and sweet blend with light hints of smoke. Lowering it to a 40% ABV makes it smoother, easier to drink. Keeping the 43% would have make it stronger and with more character (and I’ve probably would have liked it more). Even though, it goes smoothly and leaves a nice memory on the palate. One of those classic blends that easily transport you to another era. Olly Wehring, Pernod Ricard lagging [ permanent dead link] Diageo in Scotch despite China leadership - analyst, just-drinks.com, 22 May 2012.

If any provision of these Terms is held invalid, the remainder of the Terms shall continue in full force and effect. MacLean, Charles (31 March 2008). Eyewitness Companions: Whiskey – Charles MacLean. ISBN 978-0-7566-5239-5 . Retrieved 11 September 2016. No partnership, joint venture, agency, or employment relationship is created as a result of your use of the Service.Whiskybase B.V. (“Whiskybase”, “we” or “us”, company details below) offers a whisky enthusiasts online platform that provides its members access to the most comprehensive, transparent and trusted resource of whisky bottles and allows and stimulates its members to contribute information about whisky bottles to the platform (“Service”). We may, but are not under any obligation, to release new functionalities and tools or other features for the Service every now and then. Any new functionalities, tools and features shall be part of and governed by the Terms from the moment they are launched and/or available. Further, we reserve the right to modify, change, discontinue the Service, add or remove features, update the Service, change its appearance, temporarily and permanently, at any time, in whole or any part thereof. The following indicators should be taken as only a guide and not a set of hard and fast rules. Some "premium" whiskeys really are quite terrible, while some mass market products are good enough to pour into a decanter and serve to the Duke of Edinburgh. A+: A masterpiece and one of the ten best whiskeys of its type. Above five stars.