Balblair 18 Year Old Scotch Whisky
Balblair 18 Year Old Scotch Whisky is a 46% ABV (92 proof) Highland single malt matured 18 years — first in American oak ex-bourbon casks, then finished in first-fill Spanish oak butts — bottled at natural colour without chill filtration in this 750mL bottle. It is the third step of the core range Balblair unveiled in 2019, when the 1790-founded Edderton distillery swapped its vintage-only releases for classic age statements. The sherry-cask finish shows: rich toffee and baked pears with new leather on the nose, juicy apricots and vanilla custard on the palate, and a long, warming finish of fresh spices and raisins. Order it online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 46% (92 proof) — natural colour, non-chill filtered
- Size: 750mL
- Age: 18 years — ex-bourbon casks, finished in first-fill Spanish oak butts
- Distillery: Balblair, Edderton, Ross-shire — founded 1790, Allt Dearg burn water
- Style: Highland single malt, sherried and full-bodied
Eighteen Years, Spanish Oak to Finish
Balblair's house style is slow and considered — and the 18 wears its sherry casks the most openly of the range. The ex-bourbon years build the malt's honeyed base; the Spanish oak butts layer in dark fruit, spice, and that apricot-and-custard richness the distillery's own tasting notes celebrate. It's the bottle for the sherried-malt loyalist who wants age to show. Browse more in our Scotch whisky collection, the whisky shelf, or the full Balblair range.
Tasting Notes
Rich toffee and baked pears on the nose, an elegant thread of new leather behind them. The palate is juicy and balanced — ripe apricots, seasoned oak, vanilla custard — before a long, warming finish of fresh spice and raisins. Full without heaviness at 46%.
How to Enjoy
Neat in a Glencairn is the honest serve; a few drops of water open the dried-fruit character further. It also pairs with dark chocolate or a good cigar. Save it for the end of the evening — this is a nightcap dram.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Balblair 18 chill filtered?
No — like the rest of the age-statement range, it's bottled at natural colour without chill filtration at 46% ABV.
What casks is Balblair 18 aged in?
Matured first in American oak ex-bourbon casks, then finished in first-fill Spanish oak butts.
How does Balblair 18 differ from the 15?
The 18 gets the same cask treatment with three more years and a deeper sherry-cask imprint — richer toffee, darker fruit, more spice — at the same 46% ABV.
For a sherried Highland malt with real age behind it, order Balblair 18 Year Old Scotch Whisky online from Del Mesa Liquor — 750mL, ready for pickup or delivery in San Diego, CA.