Blair Athol 2009-2021 | 12 Year Old Berry Bros & Rudd Single Cask 307583

Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Bottled by: Berry Bros & Rudd 70cl / 55.2%

Another fascinating dram from Berry's Spring 2022 outturn, this 12-year-old Blair Athol 2009 has spent the entirety of its maturation in a barrique cask that previously held Californian red wine. 

Cask #307583 yielded 234 bottles of 12-year-old Blair Athol 2009 and has been bottled without colouring or chill filtration at its natural strength of 55.2%. Obviously there's a lot of red wine finished whiskies around, but you rarely see one that's been matured full term in these casks. This is a boisterous cask strength Blair Athol that really shines with a few drops of water to unfold its intricacies.

Attributes

Tasting Notes

Official Tasting Notes

Nose: This punchy dram was matured full term in an exCalifornian 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.

Palate: 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.

Jonny McMillan Says

“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. ”