Ballantine’s 15 Year Old
70cl / 40%
£69.00
- Region: Scotland
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A rich yet balanced expression that elevates the core Ballantine's house style, defined by meticulous blending of whiskies aged a minimum of fifteen years.
| Field | Details |
| Distillery / Bottler / Country & Region | George Ballantine & Son Ltd. / Scotland, Blended Scotch |
| Category | Premium Aged Blended Scotch Whisky |
| Age / Vintage / Bottled | Minimum 15 Years Old / Continuous Bottling |
| ABV & Size(s) | 40% ABV / 70cl (Standard) |
| Cask / Treatment | Whiskies matured for 15+ years in a combination of American and European oak casks. |
| Natural Colour | Assumed Colour Added (E150a) |
| Non-Chill-Filtered | No (Chill-Filtered) |
| Cask Strength | No |
| Bottle count / Outturn | Standard Core Range Expression (Continuous) |
| Intended channel | Mid-to-High end Retail, Accessible Prestige Gifting |
| Packaging | Standard glass bottle with premium labelling and presentation box. |
| Notes on discrepancies | The 15 Year Old maintains stability with a uniform 40% ABV and 70cl format, signifying its role as a predictable, high-quality, continuous production item for mid-tier premium markets. |
Historical Context
The 15 Year Old occupies a crucial space, providing a substantial upgrade in depth and richness beyond the foundational 12 Year Old, yet remaining highly approachable. The composition ensures the continuation of the Ballantine’s profile by relying heavily on the proprietary Speyside malts, with Glenburgie offering concentrated fruit and honey (the 'heart') and Miltonduff providing the structural weight. The blend uses whiskies matured for a minimum of 15 years in both American and European oak casks.
Technical Specification & Variant Map
The maturation involves a dual-oak policy, leveraging both American oak (for sweetness, vanilla, and creamy texture) and European oak (for structural spice and richer fruit notes). This deliberate casking strategy creates a more layered and expressive character compared to younger expressions.
| ABV | Volume | Market | Era cues | Relative desirability |
| 40% | 70cl | Global Core Market | Continuous production, modern standard | Standard Consumption Grade |
| 40% | Varies (e.g., 100cl) | Duty Free / Travel Retail | Standard Travel Retail format | Practical/Volume-driven |
Packaging & authenticity checklist
The packaging is designed to reflect its premium standing, usually featuring high-quality glass and a dedicated presentation box. The presentation box is critical for maintaining market value, particularly in the gifting segment.
Regulatory/terminology notes
All whiskies within this blend must meet the legal requirement of maturation for a minimum of 15 years. Like most high-volume blends, it is assumed to be chill-filtered and contain E150a caramel colouring to ensure stability and visual consistency.
Liquid Profile (from verifiable notes)
- Nose: Warm and welcoming, dominated by notes of honeycomb and soft toffee. Clear presence of red apple, layered beneath by subtle spice and dried oak notes.
- Palate: The texture is described as silky, smooth, and rounded. Flavour descriptors include caramel, vanilla cream, and baked pear, complemented by warmer notes of cinnamon. Noted for the excellent synchronicity between the malt and grain components.
- Finish: Lingering and clean, concluding with gentle fading notes of fudge, orchard fruit, and oak.
- With water: Not widely documented. The whisky is balanced for neat consumption at 40% ABV.
Pricing & Market Dynamics (GBP)
- Established UK retail price: Around $\text{£69.99}$.
- Recent auction results: Show hammer prices as low as $\text{£25.00}$.
- Pricing stratification: This disconnect indicates that while the blend is successfully positioned at a premium price point in shops, the secondary market treats it primarily as an accessible, high-volume consumption item rather than a collectible rarity.
- Liquidity $\to$ sourcing note: Liquidity is very high in global retail. The low auction hammer prices make it an extremely attractive source for private consumption inventory.
| Channel | Date | Bottle spec | Price (GBP) | Notes |
| Retail (UK) | Current (2025 est.) | 70cl, 40% ABV, Standard | 69.99 | Specialist Retailer price |
| Auction (UK) | 26/10/2025 | 70cl, 40% ABV, Standard | 25.00 | Hammer price |
Distillery/Bottler Snapshot
Ballantine’s continues to define the smooth, approachable, and fruit-driven Highland style in the blend category. The 15 Year Old successfully expresses the consistent house character by blending high-quality malts, notably Glenburgie and Miltonduff, ensuring that the blend delivers concentrated fruitiness alongside structural power and warmth.
Sourcing
Target formats/eras: New retail stock is suitable for the gifting market. Auctions are optimal for acquiring high-quality consumption stock at a significant discount.
Red flags to avoid: Ensure the presentation box is intact if targeting the gifting market.
Condition thresholds: Excellent cosmetic condition is preferred for inventory destined for premium retail display.
Margin/velocity expectations: Strong velocity as a trusted mid-tier aged blend. The auction gap allows for strong secondary market acquisition value.
