Such a lovely, cheerful label on this brand-new Blair Athol 1988 from Maltbarn. In case you’re interested, the entire series features the grandmother of Martin who is running this independent bottler.
Maltbarn released Blair Athol back in 2016 and 2018. This time it’s 32 years of age already.
Blair Athol 32 yo 1988 (48,7%, Maltbarn 2020, bourbon cask, 96 btl.)
Nose: bright, light, with a certain sourness that I always find refreshing. Some oranges or tangerines, maybe gooseberries. Then white flowers (lime blossom), hints of mead and echoes of elegant, old cognac. Lemongrass, whiffs of eucalyptus and some brioche in the background. The fruity / herbal combination is quite excellent.
Mouth: again this very elegant, fruity style. Pink grapefruits, nectarines, tangerines, sour berries. Orange oils and peels. Subtle gingery notes and herbal tea. Some kind of (green) waxy note that’s close to a hoppy note.
Finish: medium, zesty and slightly resinous, still with a light sourness and bready notes.
A great cask with a very vibrant fruity side and an oak influence that is different from what you’d expect. Complex, simply very good and standing out from the crowd. Recommended. I don’t see these new releases on the Maltbarn website yet, so you might want to drop him a line.