First Regional Wines tasting of the year, Blair Athol isn't usually seen as a single malt as most of their product is destined for blending (ding dong!). therefore, aside from the rare distillery only releases, you'll only find Blair Athol single malts from independent bottlers. Which is what we've got here ...
Blackadder Raw Cask 13yo NC2 51.7% 10.7.2009-12.2022 Hogshead 304826
N: floral, sweet, citrus, spicy, mahogany
P: fruit salad, prickly, sweet, rosemary
F: long and hot
7.5/10 I liked this, the spicyness possibly overpowered the interesting fruit salad flavours, suggesting it may have needed a few more years in cask? Overall, typically good Blackadder bottling, 3rd 8.12
Single Malts of Scotland 47.1% #40245 2.8.2006-24.4.2025 NC2 18yo PX Sherry Hogshead
N: sweet, older, grassy, bourbon?, prickly, metallic
P: sweet, tangy, creamy, vanilla, light, vanilla, fruit salad
F: spicy, medium
6/10 not a lot going on (contrary to the description!) it all felt kind of flat to me 6th, 7.56
James Eadie NC2 55.3% #307364 17.11.2009-2024 14yo re-charred hogshead
N: light, sweet, butterscotch, caramel, creme brulee, salt, vanilla
P: creamy, vanilla, sweet, salty
F: salty, dry on finish, med-long
7.5/10 Our tasting last year for the JE bottles wasn't a favourite, but this bottling was ok, interesting but still quite spiky on the finish. Came last (7th) 7.31
Adelphi 13yo 2011-2024 1st fill bourbon barrel 56.6% 305328
N: prickly, brandy butter, parmesan, savoury
P: pear, apples
F: spicy, increasing heat, but quite short finish
8/10 I liked this, another good Adelphi, the palate was particularly nice. Came 5th 7.58
Signatory 13yo NC2 30.9.2011-23.5.2025 1st fill Ruby Port hogshead 57.5%
N: banana, tobacco, sweet, tannins, peach tea, meths, malt vinegar
P: raspberries,
F: long, hot, big
8/10 Good dram, and interesting the port finish, 4th (8.11)
BBR 14yo 2009 Hogshead PX Finish 55.6%
N: sherry, sweet, roses, chocolate, molasses
P: metallic, cloying
F: astringent, short
6/10 Did not like this, not very interesting and again seemed a bit young. Came 2nd (8.26)
Mystery [Glengoyne 59.5% Cask Strength 12yo].
N: peat ?, light, sweet
P: bourbon (hints), sweet
F: spicy, medium
5.5/10 oddly low for a Glengoyne for me, but I felt this was a very one dimensional bottling. Came 1st (8.53)
Overall, interesting without being great. There is a house style, which is light, floral with fruit salad in the palate. But the spirit does seem to pick up cask flavour very easily.
