Macallan 30-year-old

This, the current pinnacle of the Balblair offering, shows precisely why this relatively little-known distillery deserves more attention. Lots of dried and orchard fruits on both nose and palate attest to the long fermentation times. A delightfully rich texture to the spirit makes taking a second sip deliciously obligatory. This is a Highland whisky made without any appreciable peat influence; instead, it gains balance from a hint of the meaty, savoury aspect imbued by the squat, dumpy stills. Drink this with something soulful: macaroni and cheese, pecan pie or late-career Etta James, perhaps.Rob Whitehead , Spirits Buyer (February 2021)