Balblair : 38 Year Old American Hogshead Cask Strength Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseurs Choice Upper 1986

Tasting characteristics and recommendations for the 38 Year Old American Hogshead Cask Strength Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseurs Choice Upper 1986 by Balblair

Tasting

Appearance

This Highland single malt shows its natural color, with no added artificial coloring, reflecting its 38 years of maturation in a hogshead cask.

Nose

The nose reveals lemon zest alongside waxy apples and a delicate floral touch. Vanilla pod meets dried banana and white chocolate, creating a rich, complex aromatic palette.

Palate

The attack opens with pineapple and marzipan, followed by spicy white pepper and a hint of ginger. Milk chocolate and lime round out this generous, balanced tasting experience.

Pairings and tasting occasions

The long, creamy finish, marked by lingering poached pear, invites you to enjoy this whisky neat, at room temperature, to fully appreciate its complexity and power at 50.6%.

A 38-year-old Highland Scotch single malt of rare complexity

Balblair Distillery, a Highland heritage

Founded in 1790 by John Ross in the Highlands at Edderton, Balblair is among the oldest Scottish distilleries still in operation. Set on heights overlooking the Dornoch Firth, it benefits from an exceptional terroir in Ross-shire. Owned by Inver House Distillers Ltd since 1996, a subsidiary of International Beverage Holdings, Balblair maintains an artisanal approach with its eight traditional dunnage warehouses with earthen floors. Its single malts stand out for an extended fermentation that brings fruity complexity and floral notes, evolving from an initially spicy character toward caramel aromas with age.

Balblair 1986, an exceptional bottling by Gordon & MacPhail

Balblair 1986 Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseurs Choice 38 Year Old joins Gordon & MacPhail’s prestigious Connoisseurs Choice collection, established in 1968. This range highlights rare, sought-after single malts from Scotland’s most established distilleries. Distilled in 1986, this whisky was aged for 38 years in hogshead casks, these reassembled American barrels that allow for slow, harmonious maturation. Bottled at 50.6%, non-chill-filtered and with no added coloring, it preserves the full expression of its character. Presented in a luxurious gift box, this 0.7-liter bottle showcases the combined expertise of Balblair Distillery and independent bottler Gordon & MacPhail, an essential reference in the selection and maturation of exceptional Scotch whiskies.