Blair Athol 2009
Style: Single Cask
Cask: #307585
Year of distillation: 2009
Bottled: 2021
Age: 12
Region: Highlands
Cask Type: California Wine Barrique
No. of bottles: 282
ABV: 55.1%
Release: Spring 2022
Jonny McMillan
“Generally speaking I enjoy Blair Athol for its subtle and understated beauty, but a full maturation in an ex-Californian red wine barrique has left this cask of Blair Athol with the intensity of a thunderstorm. It’s initially bold, bombastic and full of bluster, but given some time to breathe this is actually quite a subtle dram in it’s own busy way.”
Tasting Notes
This punchy dram was matured full term in an ex- Californian red wine barrique, the nose is initially dominated by warm baking spices, however time in the glass brings out Blair Athol’s trademark stewed apple notes. On the palate high alcohol and spicy oak integrate beautifully to form an attacking character that demands attention - make no mistake though, this whisky shows complexity and subtlety, but it requires a little water to bring out the light apple and pear notes, and perhaps a little grilled lime and wood polish. Very powerful, but worth wresting into submission.
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.”