Ballantine's Finest Blended Scotch Whisky 70 cl 40%

Some bottles are built to impress. This one is built to be there. Finest is the workhorse of the Ballantine stable, the blend standing at the back of every bar from Glasgow to Barcelona, and it has never tried to be anything other than exactly what it is.

The expert's description

Ballantine's Finest is a Blended Scotch Whisky matured in oak casks and bottled at 40 %.

Finest is the house bestseller and has been for generations. The blend draws on more than 40 different single malts, with Miltonduff and Glenburgie as the load-bearing Speyside voices, and the grain whisky ties it together into something light, floral and very approachable. The Master Blender role has been handed down since 1827, and the recipe has stayed remarkably steady.

This is not a whisky that demands concentration. It is built to be drunk over ice, in a highball or in a simple cocktail, and it takes that treatment without falling apart. If you are teaching someone to drink Scotch, this is a sensible place to start.

Tasting notes

Nose

Pale and light. Apple blossom, vanilla and a dry cereal note, with a hint of hay and pale oak behind it.

Palate

Light in the good sense, with honey, green apple and a little vanilla sweetness. The malt is there but it does not push forward.

Finish

Short, clean and slightly dry. No bitterness, no edges.

Specifications

Name: Ballantine's Finest
Distillery: Ballantine's
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
ABV: 40 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Oak casks
EAN no.: 5010106113127

Flavour profile

Light · Floral · Honeyed · Soft · Fresh

Did you know?

Ballantine's once kept its own guards at the Dumbarton warehouses. Two Scottish eagles, Glen and Nevis, were used for years to keep gulls and pigeons off the buildings, and they appeared on the company's own letterhead.

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Frequently asked questions about Ballantine's Finest

How many malts are in Ballantine's Finest?

More than 40 different single malts go into the blend, plus grain whisky. Miltonduff and Glenburgie out of Speyside supply the core while the rest are there for breadth and cohesion. The exact number shifts slightly from batch to batch.

Is it too mild for an experienced whisky drinker?

It is mild, yes, but mild is not the same as dull. Finest is a solid piece of blending craft and works well as an everyday bottle or as a base in cocktails. If you are after depth and complexity, move up to the older expressions in the range.

Can you use it in a Whisky Sour?

Yes, and that is one of its better uses. The light, floral profile does not get drowned by lemon and sugar the way a heavy sherry bomb would. Try it in a Rob Roy with sweet vermouth as well.

Should it be drunk over ice?

That is up to you, but it handles ice better than most. The cold tightens it up and pushes the apple notes forward. To get the most flavour out of it, pour at room temperature into a whisky glass and let it stand for five minutes first.

What separates Finest from the older Ballantine expressions?

Finest carries no age statement and is built for breadth and accessibility. The older releases at 12, 17 and 21 years have longer cask time, more sherry influence and considerably more depth. Finest is the entrance, not the destination.

Is it gluten free?

Whisky is distilled, and distillation removes the proteins that make up gluten. Most health authorities therefore treat distilled spirits as gluten free, but if you have coeliac disease you should always talk to your doctor first.