Blair Athol whiskies

History

The distillery was founded at the end of the 18th century and had an irregular life in its first decades, with periods of closure. In 1933 it was bought by Arthur Bell & Sons, the Perth house that made the Bell’s blend, and since then its malt has been the heart of that blend. Bell’s eventually passed to Guinness and then to Diageo, which keeps the distillery with production destined almost entirely for blends. The only regular official version is the 12-year-old in the Flora & Fauna series.

House style

Blair Athol’s malt is rich and rounded, with dried fruit, walnuts, spice and a very faint touch of smoke, largely through the influence of sherry casks. It has good texture and a dry, spicy finish. It is a style that fits very well into blends, bringing body and depth, and on its own it is a traditional malt with personality. It benefits from a few drops of water, which open up its dried fruit and spice. It is best appreciated neat, without ice, so as not to lose its deeper nuances.

Where to start

Blair Athol 12 Flora & Fauna is the catalogue’s entry. If you like it, try Bell’s to see how it works within the blend, and compare it with other rich southern Highland malts, such as Edradour 10 or Aberfeldy 12, also from Perthshire. Independent bottlers often offer other versions from this distillery.

• Blair Athol 12 Year Old Flora & FaunaSingle malt · 43% ABV