Did you know Blair Athol was named Aldour first? I didn’t. The only official release is the 12yo Flora & Fauna. Luckily independent bottlers have a couple of casks lying around. Today: Blair Athol 1993 bottled by The First Editions.
Blair Athol 20 yo 1993 (57,8%, The First Editions 2013, sherry butt, 512 btl.)
Blair Athol 20 yo 1993 (57,8%, The First Editions 2013, sherry butt, 512 btl.)Nose: nice start, fruity sherry (cherry, plums), rum & raisins and milk chocolate. Caramel. Becomes drier after a while, moving towards herbs and grasses, Seville oranges, some yeasty sharpness as well as a little wood glue.
Mouth: great cherry notes (the kind of candy you used to hang around your ears as a kid). Some Heering. Plum jam and raisins. Hints of honey and tangerines. Quite sweet, although there is a herbal bitterness behind it.
Finish: medium, more citrusy.
It’s funny how this one has such fruity notes despite (or alongside) the woody notes. Difficult to score, but I think it’s pleasantly unboring. Between € 100 and € 120, depending on the country apparently.
Score: 85/100