Ballantine’s has unveiled its latest offering: Ballantine’s 7 Bourbon Finish. The new expression from the Pernod Ricard-owned brand blends Scottish and American traditions to deliver a Whisky with depth and a touch of sweetness.
Ballantine’s 7 Bourbon Finish uses specifically selected Scotch Whiskies that are aged in oak casks for a minimum of seven years before being finished in American Bourbon barrels. It is a tribute to founder George Ballantine who was aging and selling seven-year-old Whisky back in the 1870s, long before the laws came into effect dictating that Scotch had to be aged for a minimum of three years.
On the nose, the Whisky features sweet, soft red toffee apples mixed with honey and vanilla, topped off with gentle floral notes. The palate finds soft red apples echoing the nose, intermingled with ripe pear and creamy caramel. The finish is long and sweet.
Ballantine’s master blender, Sandy Hyslop, said: “With Ballantine’s 7 Bourbon Finish we wanted to clash global whisky cultures to create a delicious Scotch whisky with a distinctively American attitude.
“The seven-year aging combined with our bespoke Bourbon barrel finishing process brings extra layers of richness, creaminess and caramel sweetness to the blend, making it ideal for Scotch lovers who want to dabble in Bourbon and for Bourbon fans wanting to break into Scotch.”
The Ballantine’s 7 Bourbon Finish bottle features a black label with white lettering and gold detail. It will be available at select whisky retailers around the world for £28 (about $36 USD).
In other Pernod Ricard Scotch Whisky news, The Glenlivet has launched Glenlivet Caribbean Reserve. The new non-age-statement single malt Scotch Whisky from the Speyside distillery has been finished in Rum barrels and is the perfect addition to summer. The new Whisky features hints of tropical fruits, honey and cinnamon. It’s a laid-back summer tipple that’s great sipped neat, over ice, or in Tiki drinks.
