Blair Athol Small Batch 2012
Cask Type: Hogshead
Bottled: 2022
Age: 10
Region: Highland
No. of bottles: 777
ABV: 46%
Release: Winter Release 2022
Jonny McMillan
“This is totally my kind of whisky; very much distillate forward, displaying classic trademark distillery character; stewed apple with good creamy mouthfeel. This will make an excellent session whisky, and pair well with an IPA for a classic half n’ half.”
Tasting Notes
Complexity and subtlety are the order of the
day with this luscious Blair Athol. Maturation
in refill hogsheads has allowed the distillate
to shine through in this bottling (generally,
Blair Athol is filled into heavy first fill casks,
masking the distillery’s very subtle character).
The nose shows stewed apple with a touch
of spice, a little vanilla, peach skins and some
ground almond. A wonderfully full textured
palate gives a similar ride through fruit, spice
and nuttiness, with just the merest hint of wood
smoke on the end. A beautiful little dram.
Distillery
Blair Athol is located south of Pitlochry in the Vale of Athol, Perthshire. This area is often described as the “gateway to the Highlands”. Foliage-covered buildings have occupied the site since 1798, making Blair Athol one of Scotland’s oldest distilleries.
Rob says: “One of the iconic Highland distilleries in my view, despite being far from one of the biggest selling. The style of whisky produced here is richly nutty and textured, meaning it responds beautifully to many different kinds of cask. The whisky, and indeed the place, exude a quiet confidence and charm that I find myself keen to return to.”