Ballantine's 12 Year Old Scotch

Ballantines 12 Year Old Scotch Whisky.Ballantines is one such bottler who has specialized in blending their large stores of Scotch. Their Ballantines 12 Year Old Scotch is the result of blending 50 malt and grain whiskeys from distilleries throughout Scotland each of which having been aged for at least 12 years.By combining the flavor profiles of several whiskeys, they have created a smooth and complex Scotch. From its clear honey-gold coloring, its rich and creamy texture, and well-rounded flavor, its a great entry-level Scotch best enjoyed on the rocks or with a splash of soda.Let it caress your nostrils with a pleasing aroma of fruit salad, sherry, and mixed nuts before seducing your palate with creamy notes of mochaccino, buttery pastry, spice, vanilla, honey and oak tied up by a finish that is light, short, and quite restrained.Proving that good Scotch doesnt always have to come from a renowned distillery, the Ballantines 12 Year Old Scotch Whisky is a beautifully-blended spirit that will have your reaching for pour after pour.George Ballantine set up this business when he was just nineteen, and later shared his whisky blending expertise with his sons George II, Archibald and Daniel, as well as his grandson, George III.Together they built a real reputation for their whisky. So much so that in 1895, Ballantine & Son was awarded with a Royal Warrant from Queen Victoria, the ultimate endorsement of the companys prestigious reputation.The Ballantines family first blended Finest in 1910, and it still stands as the oldest recipe in the current range. Nearly 200,000 bottles of Finest are sold around the world each day, proof that quality lasts the test of time.George Robertson The next master blender was yet another George, although not related to the Ballantine family. He inherited the job after the first world war and 13 years of prohibition, so found himself with barrel upon barrel of matured whisky. George Robertson created the worlds first (and to this day most rewarded) 17 year old Scotch and the prestigious Ballantines 30.During prohibition, we designed our square bottles so that American salesmen could conceal a bottle or two of Ballantines Finest in their briefcases should the cops come calling. The unusual shape of our iconic Finest bottle is still being used today, but you shouldnt have to hide it in your briefcase anymore.Jack Goudy carried on the tradition of producing excellence with the introduction of our 12 year old blend. He also trained up two future master blenders, making sure the quality of Ballantines would continue for years to come. Jack taught them the importance of sourcing the best scotch and maturing it in the best American oak. Fresh casks of American oak have arrived every year since, maintaining that same high quality and flavour.Robert Hicks The first of Goudys prodigies was Robert Hicks, a perfectionist in the world of whisky. He worked with Jack for 24 years before taking on the role of master blender and was renowned for having one of the best noses when it came to smelling whisky.Sandy Hyslop The current master blender and the second of Goudys prodigies, Sandy drives innovation on Ballantines. As the most prolific of the master blenders, he is bringing new whisky tastes to the market like Ballantines Brasil and Hard Fired. Sandy also added Ballantine's 40 to the family, the oldest expression ever in the range and something that he is particularly proud of.With his hands on approach that involves constant observation and nosing around 250 samples a day, Sandy plots the course of Ballantines. Its exciting to see where hell take it.The influence of these five master blenders has made Ballantine's what it is today, Europe's No.1 Scotch whisky and also No.2 worldwide (*IWSR volume 2015). Now, Ballantine's proposes the most comprehensive range of quality aged blended Scotch whiskies available anywhere in the world, and youll find it across the globe. These whiskies have always been of superlative quality and are extremely versatile, with that in mind, Sandy has a bit of advice on how to enjoy a dram of Ballantines...Stay true to your own taste, because the best way to drink Ballantines is exactly the way you like it.