My SMWS theme week continues with a sample I have had sitting for quite a while. When our local whisky group was unable to meet in person at the beginning of the pandemic, we created a big pack of samples for new members to use on their whisky journey. We included a variety of donated bottles and a few that SMWS had sent our way at one point. This Blair Athol was among that big tasting set, and while I meant to post tasting notes as a rough guide for people a couple years back, late is better than never!

Whisky: Blair Athol 12 Year (2007), SMWS 68.32 “A Belgian ‘half and a half’” // “A Perfect Pairing”

Country/Region: Scotland/Highland

ABV: 57.2%

Cask: Refill Bourbon Hogshead

Age: 12 Years (Distilled 24 Aug. 2007)

Nose: Candied lemon peel, coriander, black cardamon, musty dunnage, peppercorns; subtle Thai basil, lemongrass, star anise, licorice

Palate: Medium-bodied, viscous and oily, occasionally buttery, lemon and citrus, pepper, preserved lemon.

Finish: Medium-length, slightly drying, pepper, herbs, subtle licorice.

Score: 5

Mental Image: Forgotten Bag of Lemon Peel Gummies

Narrative & Notes: Herbal and citrusy, candied lemon peel and coriander arrived first with peppercorns and subtle notions of Thai basil, lemongrass, star anise, and licorice. Black cardamon appeared at times with fried buns, butter, and musty dunnage. Medium-bodied and viscous with an oily citrus that coated the palate. The profile featured a bright, peppery citrus with candied lemon peel, blood orange, and grapefruit sherbet. Lemon pepper lingered on the back end with hints of salted lemon and butter. The finish was medium-length and slightly drying with dried herbs, pepper, and more subtle licorice.

I thought this was a bit of a weird one, but then Blair Athol is often a bit different. The aroma was pleasant and interesting, but the palate was simple as the delightful citrus and spice never developed more distinct layers or found anywhere to go. This was one of those drams where I felt sure I was missing something, but when I checked the notes provided by SMWS, they more or less aligned with mine. They did not seem to suggest there was a lot of hidden depth still to find. A few drops of water cooled the occasional hint of pepper but did not substantially change the flavors.

Overall, pleasant and enjoyable, though every so often, I thought the citrus and herbal character of the malt seemed a tad soapy or brought to mind scrubbing at a dank, mildewed shower. Luckily that notion was infrequent, but it was striking when it appeared.