28th January, 2016 by Kristiane Sherry

International Beverage-owned Balbair has introduced Vintage 2005, a new “entry level” single malt Scotch which will replace the 2003 expression.

Matured in American oak ex-Bourbon barrels, Vintage 2005 was bottled in December 2015 and released in time for Burns Night earlier this month.

The release is the fourth expression in the core consumer range of Vintages, which includes 1999, 1990, 1983 and now the 2005, in place of the 2003 liquid, launched in 2013.

Vintage 2005 is said to display the classic Balblair house aromas, along with notes of oaky vanilla and leather. The “full-bodied” palate offers “hints of honey and toffee” and a “spicy, long finish” described as “more pronounced” than Balblair 2003.

“The 2005 offers the next stage in flavour profile displaying complexity as well as refreshing citrus notes,” said Mark Steven, Balblair brand manager. “The 2005 completes our core consumer range, meaning we can offer Balblair consumers a whisky for every occasion.”

Balblair Vintage 2005 is non-chill-filtered, and bottled at natural colour at 46% abv. It is available globally now through independent and specialist retailers.

Balblair claims to be the only Scotch producer to release exclusively vintage statement whiskies with each expression named after the year it is laid down in cask. Last year the distillery introduced a single cask offer, where retailers are able to purchase casks for exclusive bottling.