Whisky: Blair Athol 12 Year (2009), Cadenhead

Country/Region: Scotland/Highland

ABV: 59.8%

Cask: Bourbon Hogshead

Age: 12 Years (Distilled 2009, Bottled 2021)

Nose: Citrus and cream paired with malty scones, butterscotch, and hints black tea, bergamot, and vanilla; a touch of anise, mandarin oranges, and grapefruit.

Palate: Medium body with an oily-creamy mouthfeel; spirited and peppery, orchard fruits pushed citrus into the back, tingling spice with butterscotch, malty pastries, and a mellow herbal character— generally austere and uncomplicated.

Finish: Medium-length with tingling pepper, orchard fruit, and butterscotch.

Score: 5-6 (76)

Mental Image: Biscuits in a London Fog

Narrative & Notes: A trifle raw and spirited for my taste, this young Blair Athol certainly fit the austere vibe of these Authentic Collection bottles.  Minimal wood influence allowed the character of the malt to shine through with plenty of oranges, mandarins, chalk, and tangy spice. It also highlighted the youthfulness and spirited quality of the make— it can take a good while for bottles like this to properly mellow out, and I thought this improved a fair measure after opening.

Overall, a lovely simple dram— it lacked some of the eccentricities I love about Blair Athol, but offered up a lovely viscous and creamy mouthfeel.

Image Credit: Whisky Auctioneer