Ballantines Finest

I usually don't drink cheap blends, in afraid of what I brought would go to the toilet, but I found Ballatine's Finest seemed to be a better cheap blend among other big brands and Mr. Jim Murray gave it a 96 pts score, so I picked up a 200ml bottle in a convenience store and gave it a try.

The bottle has been opened for a week.

Nose: Milk chocolate, green apple, white pepper, ginger and some peanuts butter. Slightly smoky, quite expressive.

Palate: Soft and light, apparently very speysidey. Vanilla pudding, cereal, lime peel, orange candy and some cinnamon. Very little peat and smoke in the background.

Finish: Rather short, coffee, chocolate and mango.

Balance: Very smooth and no offs, but nothing special.

Ballatine's Finest has a lot in common with Ballantines 17yo, but sweeter and less peaty for the masses, and there are a lot more grain whiskies inside. Still not in the leagues of most entry-level malts, but would be useful for a college party anyway.

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