Another dram I sampled as part of the WhiskyShop tasting panel (thank you guys). Not much info on that one, but I guess it’s a sherry cask of some sort. bottled at the customary 50% OMC bottlings come at.. A Blair Athol, not a dram you frequently sample, is it? (I think it’s #2 on the blog, from this distillery),
Blair Athol 18 year old, Old Malt Cask , 50% , £100
Nose : Quite dusty on the nose, with some sherry notes as well as wood showing well aged notes. It’s not very sweet however. Malt and limes. Quite alcoholic some nail varnish and acetone too. White pepper. Needs some water to unravel.
Palate: much sweeter and creamier with the water. Doughnuts and old school boiled sweets and a raisin-y and dried fruit touch. Sherry is stronger now than the nose suggested (maybe water did help too) I am getting quite a bit of pepper, Cinnamon and Malt and damp wood with a gingery touch. Hot with chilly powder and dried fruit.
Palate: Dried fruit. spices. Chilly powder.
This is an interesting one. It’s not your run of the mill sherry dram, as it’s much spicier and the dried fruit are not ver pronounced. It’s quite complex, and interesting (in a good way), but not something that is “easy drinking”. You need to give this one some time, sit with it, and let it express itself. I’d recommend it for the seasoned drinker, who appreciated this sort of “exploratory” experience. A curious one indeed. At 100 quid it’s certainly not cheap. Not sure I’d opt for one, but BA fans , maybe…
Available at the WhiskyShop online store.