Whisky : Blair Athol 10 Year, Dramfool

Country/Region : Scotland/Highland

ABV : 59.7%

Cask : Refill Sherry Butt

Age : 10 Year (Distilled 10 Feb. 2010, Bottled 7 Jan. 2021)

Nose : Fruits, tropical sugars, and earth. Preserved fruits and salted plums appeared with hints of florals and a mild creaminess like atemoya. Tropical sugars brought back memories of pandan sugar on toast and black sugar buns. Mild earthiness peaked through at times with turmeric, red ginger, and a salty pretzel twang.

Palate : Medium-bodied with an earthy sweetness and notes of fruit, malt, and salt. A mellow creaminess came across right away, even strong with water, along with preserved fruits, dried dates, and canned peaches. The profile became more tropical and exotic with time as lychee and rambutan appeared with their woody pits. A bit earthy toward the end as turmeric, ginger, and fenugreek appeared. Water brought more cream and cassis at the end.

Finish : Lingering notes of cassis and cream cookies.

Score : 7

Mental Image : Tropical Fruit Merchants at Breakfast

Notes :  This Blair Athol had a lovely complex flavor profile. Distinct layers of fruit, earth, and cream made this a lot of fun to sit with and try to pick apart. There were just so many different impressions that came to mind, from earthy curries to stone fruits. I thought this took to water remarkably to give a more creamy-fruity experience. The refill sherry butt accentuated some of the natural exotic fruit that can come through on Blair Athol and provided a mellow tannic astringency at the finish so that it constantly felt as though I had eaten a fruity shortbread cookie.

I have had mixed impressions of Blair Athol in the past, though I was not surprised that I enjoyed this bottle. I know Bruce at Dramfool prides himself in only bottling things that he likes, and he is not the sole bottler that does this. However, his tastes align with my own in a way they do not always with other bottlers, and I have consistently loved the Dramfool releases. Overall, this Blair Athol was no exception, and after tasting it a few months ago, I did not pass up the opportunity to grab a bottle when given a chance.