Balblair 26 years 1990 Cadenhead's Bourbon Barrel - One of 108 - bottled 2016 Authentic Collection (Brown)

Scotland, Northern Highlands. Distillery operational. Owner: Inver House Distillers Ltd.

It was at the dawn of the new millennium, under the leadership of Inver House Distillers Ltd - the distillery's new owners from 1996 on - that Balblair freed itself from its past as a blender's malt (Ballantines', Hankey Bannister, Pinwinnie, etc.) and became a single malt in its own right. Unpeated and frequently aged in ex-bourbon casks, Balblair released numerous small-batch vintage bottlings. In the early 2000s, the classic 10 Year Old and 16 Year Old Elements versions were joined by two outstanding versions aged respectively for 35 years (1970) and 33 years. It was, however, with two bottlings from 1966 (38 years) and 1974 (27 years) matured entirely in sherry casks that Balblair veered off the beaten track and attracted the attention of collectors.

A Balblair single cask distilled in 1990, matured in a bourbon cask and bottled in 2016 for the Authentic Collection. Cadenhead's was founded in Aberdeen in 1842 by George Duncan. William Cadenhead then joined the company and, when George Duncan died in 1858, took over and renamed the business after himself. William’’s nephew Roberth Duthie developed the company in the early 20th century and it remained a family business until 1969. William Cadenhead Ltd was then sold to the Springbank distillery’’s owner J. & A. Mitchell and Co. Hedley G. Wright, a direct descendent of Archibald and John Mitchell, became William Cadenhead Ltd’’s CEO. In the past, Cadenhead had mainly sold its own brands, such as Putachieside, The Hielanman, Seven Stars and Green Label rums. Under Hedley G. Wright, the company began to take more of an interest in single malts. This led to the creation of the legendary collection of dumpy bottles in 1977. This series of single malts stood out for its very gentle filtration, lack of artificial colouring, and relatively high bottling strength for the time (80 proof/45.7% ABV). The labels included lots of information, including the month and year of distillation and bottling, and whether or not sherry casks were used. Also in 1977, the business moved to another address in Aberdeen, and finally to Campbeltown. In the 1980s, Cadenhead sold casks to legendary bottlers such as Samaroli and Corti Brothers through the subsidiary Duthie’’s. Finally, two new whisky ranges were created in 1991 and 1992, the Original Collection bottled at 46% and the Authentic Collection bottled at cask strength. Other special series to mark Cadenhead’’s major anniversaries (150 and 175 years), as well as new ranges launched since (Small Batch, World Whiskies, etc.), have all contributed to the company’’s ongoing history up to the present day. A limited edition of 108 bottles.