Ballantines 12 Year Special Reserve (No Box)

Ballantine’s 12 Year Old Special Reserve 750ml 43% is a discontinued older-style blended Scotch whisky from George Ballantine & Son. This vintage presentation was bottled at 43% ABV in the traditional 750ml / 75cl format, compared with many later Ballantine’s 12 Year Old releases bottled at 40% ABV. Collector and auction records confirm 75cl/750ml Special Reserve bottlings at 43%.

All whiskies in the blend were matured for at least 12 years, combining mature malt and grain Scotch to create the smooth but characterful style associated with older Ballantine’s blends. Archived tasting records show a profile centred around honey, vanilla, sweet cereal, fruit, chocolate and gentle peat smoke. 

**Please note bottle only. 

Tasting Notes

Nose: Honey, vanilla and sweet cereals with ripe fruit, caramel and gentle floral notes, followed by subtle old-fashioned peat smoke.

Palate: Creamy and rounded with honeyed malt, vanilla, caramel and orchard fruit, developing chocolate, orange peel, oak and restrained smoky character.

Finish: Medium and warming with malt sweetness, vanilla, spice, gentle oak and lingering smoke. Archived reviews of the older 43% expression particularly note vanilla, honey, caramel, cereal, oak and peat/smoke.