Blair Athol

 

Blair Athol Distillery

blair-athol-12-year-old-whisky

History Blair Athol Distillery is a distillery in Scotland that distills Blair Athol single malt whisky. It is used in Bell’s whisky, and is also normally available in a 12-year-old bottling. The distillery is located near Pitlochry in Perthshire. The distillery was founded in 1798 by John Steward and Robert Robertson, originally named ‘Aldour’, after the Allt Dour burn the distillery draws it water from, but closed soon after opening. The distillery opened again and changed ownership to John Robertson in 1825. It was sold several times in the period after, going from John Robertson to Alexander Conacher & Co., then to John Conacher & Co, which was inherited by Elizabeth Conacher in 1860. It was sold again to Peter Fraser & Co, and again again to Peter Mackenzie of P. McKenzie & Co Distillers Limited in 1882. The distillery closed down in 1932. The mothballed distillery was bought by Arthur Bell and Sons, but didn’t open again until it was rebuilt in 1949. In 1973 the distillery expanded, adding two stills to the existing two.

The Whiskyphiles tasting notes

Official Bottling
  • blair-athol-12-year-old-whisky Blair Athol 12 Years Old Flora and Fauna (2016) - Blair Athol 12 Years Old Flora and Fauna (43%, OB, 2016) Category: Highland single malt scotch whisky Distillery: Blair Athol Bottling: Diageo ABV: 43% Cost: £45.23 What they say: Blair Athol Distillery stands […]
  • blair-athol-distillery-only-whisky Blair Athol Distillery Only 2010 (2016) - Blair Athol 14 Years Old Distillery Exclusive (55.8%, OB, 6000 Bottles, 2010) Category: Highland single malt scotch whisky Origin: Blair Athol Distillery Bottling: Diageo; Blair Athol Distillery ABV: 55.8% What they say: […]
  • Blair Athol Distillery Exclusive Blair Athol Distillery Only 2019 (2020) - Blair Athol 2019 Distillery Exclusive (48%, OB, 6000 Bottles, 2019) ABV: 48% Age: NAS Bottling: OB, Diageo Category: Highland single malt scotch whisky Cost: £90 Origin: Blair Athol distillery Vintage: Undeclared What […]
Independent Bottling
Gordon & MacPhail
James Eadie
  • Blair Athol 10 Years Old 2009 Cask 307362 (2021) - A rather citric, juicy and fruity and a touch floral Blair Athol accented with woody oak from the rechar cask, quite unusual to sample Blair Athol naked of sherry cask influence.
Langside
  • hl-blair-athol-11-hc-600x600-1 Blair Athol 11 Years Old 2002 Hepburn’s Choice (2022) - Full of fresh fruit flavours and aromas, quite green and spirit driven - I suspected a refill cask and confirmed by the bottling details. Pleasant, a good base whisky and nice insight into Blair Athol spirit. 82/100
  • blair-athol-12-year-old-2003-langside-robertsons-of-pitlochry Blair Athol 12 Years Old 2003 Hepburn’s Choice (2016) - Blair Athol 12 Years Old 2003 Hepburn’s Choice bottled exclusively for Robertsons of Pitlochry (46%, Langside Distillers, 2016) Category: Highland single malt scotch whisky Origin: Blair Athol Distillery Bottling: Langside bottled exclusively […]
Lockett Bros
  • LB Blair Athol fidra70 Blair Athol 8 Years Old 2009 Fidra (2019) - Blair Athol 8 Years Old 2009 Fidra whisky review: Very young, spirity and hot, definite sherry influence present here (tasted blind to cask type) with dried fruits, blackcurrant and after a while hints of treacle. 73/100
That Boutique-Y Whisky Company
  • Blair+Athol+17+Year+Old+-+Batch+2+(That+Boutique-y+Whisky+Company) Blair Athol 21 Years Old Batch 5 (2019) - Blair Athol 21 Years Old Batch 5 Whisky Review: Everything gently whispers refill sherry cask from this Blair Athol expression, mostly full of luscious subtleties though a little spice can become dry and overpowering if you let it. 87/100