NEW YORK, NEW YORK, November 20, 2012 – International Beverage USA announced the release of Balblair 1969, the oldest vintage of the multi-award winning Balblair Single Malt Scotch Whisky portfolio to hit the United States market. Filled from just two casks in the distillery, Balblair 1969 is 41.4% ABV, bottled at natural strength, contains natural colors and is un-chill filtered.
At the time of its production, the whisky was made from barley grown onsite and was distilled in old coal-fired stills. It was then allowed to mature for 43 years in American Oak, ex-bourbon casks in the traditional Dunnage style warehouses at Balblair.
“There is rarely a whisky that I can say really blows me away. This is one of those occasions,” said Distillery Manager John MacDonald. “It is remarkably smooth for being aged 43 years and I’m confident whisky enthusiasts will agree when I say it has been well worth the wait.”
Balblair 1969 displays a rich golden color with amber highlights. Hints of lemons, apples, bananas and toffee are evident on the nose with slightly vanilla, leather and smoky notes. On the palate, the complexity of flavors comes through well into the long finish. It is honey sweet with hints of green apples, bananas, pears and oranges. The full bodied flavor includes a hint of smokiness, together with a suggestion of toffee and vanilla.
Packaged in an elegant black lacquered display box, the suggested retail price for the 1969 is $3,400. It will be available in limited quantities at select retailers across the United States. Balblair’s previous U.S. releases include 1989, 1991, 1997, 2000 and 1975. The award-winning portfolio recently received a Gold Medal from the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and Beverage Testing Institute for its 1989 and 2000 vintages. For more information visit Balblair on Facebook or www.balblair.com.
About Balblair
Balblair is the only single malt exclusively released in vintages. John MacDonald, Balblair’s Distillery Manager, handpicks each vintage and only releases them when they’re at the peak of their perfection. The Distillery, located in Edderton overlooking the Dornoch Firth, is built on a former Pictish settlement, which still features a 4,000 year old standing stone, the Clach Biorach. Each Balblair bottle is presented in a category-leading box featuring one of three atmospheric images of the view up the Dornoch Firth towards the distillery. Each image correlates to one of the vintages, beautifully portraying the distillery’s surrounding area, which was originally founded by John Ross of the Clan Ross in 1790 and is now one of the oldest working distilleries in Scotland. For more information visit Balblair on Facebook or www.balblair.com.
About International Beverage
Balblair is produced by International Beverage. (www.interbevgroup.com) IBHL was established in 2005, as the international arm of ThaiBev, one of South East Asia’s leading alcohol beverage companies. With a network of regional offices in Asia, Europe and North America, the company is responsible for the production, sales, marketing and distribution of a portfolio of premium global brands in more than 80 countries and territories. The company’s success is built on a strong understanding of local cultures and markets along with the creation of a global operational network.