A small trio of splendid Blair Athol


July 24, 2026

A small trio of splendid Blair Athol, spanning the years from 2011 back to 1991

The very epitome of the Midlander, wedged between the Lowlands and Speyside, yet lumped together with Highlanders stretching from Glengoyne to Pulteney and beyond... I would much rather call Blair Athol a Midlander than leave it buried in that Highland catch-all, even if I am probably the only one who does...

Blair Athol 14 yo 2011/2026 (56.1%, Fadandel, 1st fill bourbon hogshead, cask #308030, 114 bottles)

Colour: full gold. Nose: very much on fresh oak, chalk, lemon and apples, with a razor-sharp edge that we do not encounter all that often in Blair Athol. Dissolving aspirin tablets add an unusual, almost clinical touch. With water: wafts of orange zest, even, forgive me in advance, Fanta and 7Up, all wrapped up in a little vanilla custard. Mouth (neat): very much in keeping with the nose without water, still firmly on barley, chalk, fresh bark, lemon, green apples and grass. With water: it retains its wonderfully natural sharpness but becomes just a shade rounder, with a delicate honeyed softness. Finish: fairly long, still utterly natural, almost evocative of the Midlands countryside. Yes, really. Comments: it is not extraordinary, in the primary sense of the word, yet I find it quite exquisite within this utterly natural, unvarnished style.
SGP:451 - 86 points.

Blair Athol 28 yo 1998/2026 (52.8%, Decadent Drams, 160 bottles)

A marriage of two refill hogsheads, rather in the style of Cadenhead during the Mark Watt years. Colour: white wine. Nose: we are very close to the 2011, only with a little more depth, more fresh mint, lime instead of yellow lemon, then touches of Chartreuse, verbena and wormwood, all resting upon a bed of freshly milled barley. A beautiful nose, a little restrained perhaps, yet quietly delightful. With water: very little change, just a few leafy notes emerging. Mouth (neat): a lovely assortment of citrus fruits, with quite remarkable liveliness, almost too refreshing, in the sense of being almost dangerously drinkable. Little lemon cakes and chilled green tea. With water: once again it scarcely moves, merely revealing a few tiny jellybeans, yellow ones of course. Finish: much the same for quite a long while. Comments: within this ultimately rather restrained style, this is surely close to perfection. We cannot help thinking of the old Lowlanders, Rosebank in particular. Very well played.
SGP:561 - 90 points.

Blair Athol 34 yo 1991/2026 (50.8%, OB, Rare Series, sherry ex-European oak plus PX-seasoned new American oak hogsheads, 347 bottles)

Quite some cask wizardry behind this recent prestige Blair Athol from Diageo/Justerini & Brooks, but they do know how to pull it off. Colour: copper amber. Nose: not the easiest after the wonderfully graceful Decadent Drams, the casks making a much stronger statement here, with more roasted peanuts, slightly singed raisins, dark turrón, coffee, toffee, dark chocolate and even a touch of rum. Yet there are also handsome black teas, let us call them Assam since we may as well give them a name. With water: fig jam, dark chocolate and cracked black pepper. Mouth (neat): what a turnaround, it is far fresher on the palate, citrus fruits charging in at full speed, blood oranges, orange cake, thyme honey, chestnut honey and a splash of hoisin sauce. It is genuinely excellent on the palate, rich and oily yet wonderfully lively at the same time. With water: everything rounds itself off towards oriental pastries, makrouts, little fig cakes, dark honeys and even a touch of molasses. Finish: much the same, and it lingers for quite a while. A hint of tobacco and oak in the aftertaste. Comments: in the end it has caught up with the brilliant Decadent Drams in terms of quality, albeit in a style that is the complete opposite. That, after all, is one of the great pleasures of tasting fine whiskies, you see…
SGP:562 - 90 points.

A thoroughly delightful session today! At any rate, for this humble taster.

Check the index of all Blair Athol we've tasted