{"product_id":"ballantines-18-year-old-blended-scotch-whisky-1980s-5cl-miniature","title":"Ballantine's 18 Year Old Blended Scotch Whisky (1980s) 5cl Miniature","description":"\u003ch2\u003eBallantine's 18 Year Old Blended Scotch Whisky (1980s) 5cl Miniature\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA miniature of 1980's Ballantine's 18 Year Old Blended Whisky. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSome of the malts in this are older than 18 years old and contain a good amount of Strathisla, Miltonduff \u0026amp; Glenburgie.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTASTING NOTES\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNose: Polished oak and vanilla unfold into a rich suite of dried fig, raisin and plum. Sherry influence adds cocoa, orange zest and espresso, with a whisper of leather and spice on a velvety, oak-forward nose.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePalate: Silky and richly layered on the palate, this 18-year Ballantine's reveals dried fruits—raisin, fig, prune—paired with orange zest, vanilla and toffee. Sherry influence adds almond, cocoa and spice, finishing long and refined with gentle oak and a lingering fruit-forward warmth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFinish: Elegant and long, the finish carries sherried fruit, dried fig and coc\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout Ballantine's\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe eponymous blend of the Ballantine family first made its name in Edinburgh in 1827, but has grown into a brand synonymous with Scotch whisky across the world.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"company-profile__item company-profile__profile\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBallantine’s established itself early on as a smooth, easy-drinking blend and that reputation still sticks today. Comprised of some 50 single malts – mostly from Miltonduff and Glenburgie – and four grain whiskies, the blend delivers sweet vanilla and cocoa notes in its youth and among its no-age-statement expressions, building layers of honey, toffee and spice as the age develops.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe story of the world’s now second biggest-selling Scotch whisky began in 1827 when farmer’s son George Ballantine established a shop in Edinburgh, which eventually extended its wares into wines and spirits.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1865 Ballantine handed the shop’s operation over to his eldest son, Archibald, while he set up a second, larger premises in Glasgow. With the new business Ballantine began creating his own blends, which drew so much interest he enlisted the assistance of another son, George Jnr, into the business with him and began trading under the name George Ballantine \u0026amp; Son.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1891 George Ballantine passed away and the business was passed officially to his son, George. It was five years later that George Ballantine \u0026amp; Son was granted a Royal Warrant by Queen Victoria following a regal visit to Glasgow.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1910, what was to become the brand’s flagship blend – Ballantine’s Finest – was launched. Riding a high, George Jnr sold the business for a sizeable profit to Barclay and McKinlay in 1919, who adopted the Ballantine’s brand name in favour of Talisker.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1935 the group, including George Ballantine \u0026amp; Son, was sold to Canadian distiller Hiram Walker-Gooderham \u0026amp; Worts which set about securing a selection of whiskies to supply the blend. Hiram Walker began purchasing several distilleries, including Miltonduff and Glenburgie – both in 1936, and built the mammoth Dumbarton complex, which housed the largest grain distillery in Europe at that time. Whiskies distilled at both Miltonduff and Glenburgie continue to form the backbone of Ballantine’s today.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDuring the 1960s Hiram Walker began focusing on exports to Europe, so much so that by 1986 the Ballantine’s brand had become the largest brand in the continent and the third largest-selling whisky in the world. In 1987 Hiram Walker sold out to Allied Domecq.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 2002 the Dumbarton plant was closed down and production shifted to Strathclyde grain distillery, although a large bonded warehouse complex and bottling plant still exist in Dumbarton. Three years later the brand was acquired by French drinks group Pernod Ricard and falls within its Chivas Brothers whisky portfolio.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe core portfolio consists of Finest, Limited, 12, 17, 21, 30 and 40-year-olds, while a lime-flavoured extension, Ballantine’s Brasil, was launched in 2013.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e43% ABV\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e5cl \/ 50ml\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ballantines","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53986660122962,"sku":null,"price":15.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1052\/9737\/9666\/files\/Ballantine_s18YearOldBlendedScotchWhisky_1980s_5clMiniature.jpg?v=1783906978","url":"https:\/\/whiskysituation.co.uk\/products\/ballantines-18-year-old-blended-scotch-whisky-1980s-5cl-miniature","provider":"Whisky Situation","version":"1.0","type":"link"}