Balblair 2014 Little Brown Dog 12 year old Calvados Cask Finish Single Highland Malt Whisky 56,1%

On the shore of the Dornoch Firth in the far north of Scotland, Balblair has been distilling whisky since 1790, one of the oldest working distilleries in the Highlands. Little Brown Dog took two casks of that spirit on a road trip to Normandy and back, and what came home smells as much of orchard fruit as it does of Highland malt.

Expert description

Balblair 2014 Calvados Cask Finish is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky, finished in a Calvados cask and bottled at 56.1%.

It is Little Brown Dog's first release finished in a Calvados cask, and the story behind it is classic for the bottler: two 250-litre casks of Balblair were squeezed into one small Calvados cask, with room to spare that nobody expected. The angel's share was brutal, and the outturn suffered for it, but the liquid itself came good. Balblair's long fermentation gives a fruity, clear-wort spirit, and after first maturing in ex-White Port casks, this one spent a little over 18 months finishing in the Calvados cask before being bottled in May 2026. The finish lays a bright green apple character and a faint champagne-like lift over the fuller Balblair base, without ever taking it over. Only 290 bottles exist in total.

Tasting notes

Nose

Fresh lemon, ice cream wafer and green apple, lifted by a gentle sweetness from the cask.

Palate

Gooseberry and apple butter arrive first, followed by a spiced, stewed plum note.

Finish

Apple skins and a dry, champagne-like sparkle linger, closing on a small hit of green chilli.

Specifications

Name: Balblair 2014 Calvados Cask Finish
Distillery: Balblair
Bottler: Little Brown Dog
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 56.1%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Ex-White Port casks, finished in a Calvados cask
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 5 April 2014
Bottled: 6 May 2026
Number of bottles: 290
Edition: Little Brown Dog's first Calvados cask finish

Flavour profile

Fruity · Apple Notes · Fresh · Lightly Spiced · Elegant

Investment potential

Medium. Only 290 bottles exist worldwide, and it marks Little Brown Dog's first release finished in a Calvados cask — a combination that has historically made the bottler's small batch releases sought after by collectors.

Did you know?

The Calvados cask was brought home from Normandy by Little Brown Dog themselves, and the label is designed around a Bayeux Tapestry theme to nod to that French connection.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Balblair 2014 Calvados Cask Finish

What makes Balblair 2014 Calvados Cask Finish special?

It's Little Brown Dog's very first release finished in a Calvados cask, and with only 290 bottles in the world, it won't come around twice. The cask was carried home from Normandy by the bottler themselves, and it gives this Highland whisky a fresh apple and champagne character rarely seen in the category.

Is Balblair 2014 Calvados Cask Finish worth the money?

The scarcity speaks for itself: a tiny outturn of 290 bottles from a sought-after independent bottler, in a cask type no other Balblair release has used before. That combination is exactly what collectors watch for.

Why did Little Brown Dog choose a Calvados cask?

Calvados is an apple brandy from Normandy in France, and the team behind Little Brown Dog felt its fruity character would suit Balblair's light, long-fermented spirit well. The result is a whisky with a clear streak of green apple and a light, sparkling finish.

Should Balblair 2014 Calvados Cask Finish be served neat or with ice?

Try it neat first, to catch the apple and champagne notes from the cask. At 56.1%, a few drops of water can open the aromas further, while ice will mute both the fruit and the lightly spiced finish.

Which glass suits this whisky best?

A tulip-shaped glass such as a Glencairn glass concentrates the aromas, bringing out the apple and citrus notes on the nose. See our selection of whisky glasses.

What is Balblair known for as a distillery?

Balblair sits on the Dornoch Firth in the northern Highlands and is one of Scotland's oldest distilleries, founded in 1790. Its spirit is known for being fruity and full-bodied, partly thanks to an unusually long fermentation process.

Who is Little Brown Dog?

Little Brown Dog is an independent Scottish bottler based in Aberdeenshire, founded in 2018 and known for small batch releases and a relaxed, honest approach to whisky, including experiments with unusual cask types like Calvados.