Blair Athol Distillery Exclusive (Batch 02)

Blair Athol Distillery, Thursday, April 25th 2024. Whisky #2 Nose: The aroma is rather reserved, unexpected for Blair Athol at this proof. The primary scents include red fruits, vanilla, and citrus. Palate: A sweet entry featuring cherry, plum, and cranberry. Vanilla and a significant amount of porridge-like grain and new oak emerge as it develops. Both cask types employed for aging (detailed below) must have been very active. A hint of spice is present, but it's a modest palate, yet the texture possesses a pleasing oiliness. Finish: Medium/Short. Caramel, milk chocolate, and grain. Launched in 2023, this marks the second no-age-statement Distillery Exclusive from Blair Athol (the first batch arrived in 2017). It matured in a mix of deeply charred American oak casks and French wine barriques of unknown origin. I'd estimate the whiskies used range from 8-12 years in age. This is a very bright malt focused distinctly on grain and wood qualities. One could describe it as a "genuine" malt, despite its strong cask influence. It's atypical for a Blair Athol, and I enjoyed it, but I also perceived that while not weak, it was strangely subdued and required more impact. Tasted at the distillery. “Good”: 84/100 (3.75 stars)