Your Guide to Ballantine’s Blended Scotch Whisky
We’re not here to tell you how to enjoy your next sip of Ballantine’s.
In fact, our master blender, Sandy Hislop, has a mantra that we take very seriously:
“Stay true to your own taste, because the best way to drink Ballantine’s is exactly the way you like it.”
He’s a smart man and we agree with him. But, what we are here to do is to tell you a little more about some of the whiskies in our range. And, of course, some of the ways you can get the most out of them – whether that’s shaken up into a cocktail, enjoyed on the rocks or even mixed with a splash of cola.
Ballantine’s Finest
Meet our OG blend. It’s perfectly balanced, smooth and slightly sweet. With a recipe that’s stayed true to itself since 1910, this blend of over 40 malt & grain whiskies is a bit of an icon. Its notes of milk chocolate, red apple, and vanilla mean it’s basically the best friend of any mixer you have in the fridge.
How to drink it: From simple mixers to exotic sours, classic whisky cocktails (we’re looking to you, Old Fashioned) to twists – Ballantine’s Finest is your sidekick when it comes to experimenting with flavours. Looking for inspiration? We’ve got you covered with a whole library of articles that’ll give you ideas for everything from how to mix up your own bar menu legends all the way to whisky milkshakes.
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Ballantine’s 10 Year Old
We call this one the scotch lover’s scotch. It’s made from whiskies carefully selected by our master blender and then aged for 10 years. Expect a perfectly balanced blend with a complex honey aroma and a creamy oak sweetness.
How to drink it: This one is pretty much made for levelling up your hosting game. We love it in a Penicillin because the cocktail’s honey and ginger notes bring out that 10-year-old magic. It’s also the secret to a top-tier Rob Roy if you’re feeling a little bit bougie.
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Ballantine’s 17 Year Old
This is where things get deep. Those 17 years of ageing bring out some pretty impressive notes. Think vibrant honey, velvet fruits, and a tiny hint of smoke. It’s a bit spicy, very smooth, and definitely incredibly sippable.
How to drink it: Pour a small glass of whisky and take your time. The slower you sip, the more you notice the layers of sweet, creamy and smoky notes.
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Ballantine’s 21 Year Old
Indulgent? Yes. Worth it? Absolutely. Whisky lovers describe Ballantine’s 21 Year Old as “intense”, “rich” and “beautifully balanced”. With notes of aromatic spice and mellow dried fruit, this is the blended scotch whisky for when you really want to treat yourself.
How to drink it: Keep it simple on the rocks to let the spice shine. Or if you’re in your mixologist era, try a White Orchid. It’s a delicate vanilla-whisky serve that celebrates apple and liquorice notes we worked so hard to perfect. To make White Orchid cocktail, pour 50ml Ballantine’s and 50ml vanilla liqueur into a mixing glass with ice and stir well. Strain in rocks glass with ice.
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Ballantine’s 30 Year Old
The big one. Made from incredibly rare whiskies – some that come from distilleries in Scotland that are no longer in existence. So, we’re not bragging when we say, this is truly a reward in a glass. Just moved house/got married/got that BIG promotion? This is the bottle you’ll want to reach for. Expect juicy pear and peach flavours combined with a complex balance of honey, floral and vanilla notes.
How to drink it: Put simply, we’d highly recommend you savour it. A single ice cube is all you need to unlock the rich sweetness of this blend. It’s a legend for a reason.
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We’ve talked about some of our extensive range, but there is so much more to discover. Ballantine’s Wild will bring a world of juicy cherry flavour to your cocktail shaker, Ballantine’s Sweet Blend is so indulgent it tastes like dessert, and Ballantine’s Sunshine is every bit as summery as you’d expect. And that’s just the start.
If you’re after more cocktail inspiration we’ve got a whole lot of articles written just for you. From the perfect food pairings to our favourite seasonal tipples, give it a read to turn your next event into something special.
