Ballantine’s, the No 1 ultra-premium
whisky in Asia Pacific, has brought
together Master Blender Sandy Hyslop and
the 2010 Ballantine’s Championship
winner Marcus Fraser, to create the 2011
Championship Blend.
The blend is a priceless limited edition
of only 10 bottles made from rare and
precious whiskies aged for at least 38
years. Of these rare bottles, one will
be presented to the winner of the 2011
Ballantine’s Championship and another
will be auctioned during the tournament
with all proceeds being donated to
charitable causes.
The creation of an exclusive blend has
become an annual tradition ahead of the
€2.2 million Ballantine’s Championship
golf tournament which this year will
take place at the prestigious Blackstone
Golf Club in Icheon, Korea from 28th
April to 1st May 2011.
The event is set to be an exciting
tournament with an all-star quartet of
golfing greats contending for the title,
including world No 1 Lee Westwood, South
African superstar Ernie Els, world No 10
Ian Poulter and Asia’s first major
winner, YE Yang.
Peter Moore, Ballantine’s Global Brand
Director, is delighted that such a
distinct tradition has been established:
“We are excited to once again be
unveiling an exceptionally rare and
exclusive blend for the Ballantine’s
Championship. Marcus was triumphant last
year, demonstrating real flair in his
efforts, and has extended this sense of
style to whisky blending too. We wish
Marcus every success in April, when he
returns to South Korea to defend his
Ballantine’s Championship title.”
Master Blender Hyslop personally guided
Fraser through the delicate blending
process, and he is delighted with the
final result of this unique
collaboration adding: “The 2011
Ballantine’s Championship Blend is
completely bespoke and it is absolutely
first class. On no account could a
whisky of this quality be produced on a
commercial scale, because the whiskies
we have blended are so precious and
rare.”
Fraser is only the second person outside
Ballantine’s expert blending team to
influence a Ballantine’s blend, with
Northern Irish golfer and current US
Open champion Graeme McDowell having
been granted the same privilege as
winner of the inaugural Ballantine’s
Championship in 2008.
Ballantine's 2011 Championship Blend
Producer's Tasting Notes:
Nose:
Very rich and fruity with notes of ripe
peaches in sweet syrup and traditional
pear drop boiled sweets. There is also a
wonderful background flavour of
butterscotch, honeycomb candy and
vanilla.
Taste:
Fruity, incredibly sweet and satin
smooth. Rich honey flavours intermingled
with sweet orange and a hint of
liquorice tang.
Finish:
Unbelievably long, sweet and juicy.
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