A Flora and Fauna release from the Blair Athol distillery, this 12 year old exudes sherry and Christmas pudding notes with spice. Blair Athol does not receive the acclaim it so thoroughly deserves.
Nutty with sherried notes. Gentle oak char. Crisp.
Good body, malty and sweet. Citrus and the peels thereof.
Toasty oak, syrup. Good sweetness, bittersweet, drying.
Nose: Fresh and Dried fruit. Touch of leather, tobacco. Sherry with a hint of sulphur. Taste: Smooth, full-bodied, sweet, tobacco and a hint of sherry sweetness. It's ok but if you're sensetive to sulphur it's not gonna tick all the boxes.
I bought a 200ml bottle at the distillery in Pitlochry last week. Wish I had gone for the full bottle instead. I actually bought 3 bottles and now wish I hadn't given the other 2 away as presents.
This is absolutely a 5-star expression in my opinion from a distillery that routinely produces outstanding whiskies--and at a price that is rather remarkable considering the depth of character and palate of flavors. Those flavors come at you subtly from front palate to well past the back palate. I get the expected caramel, but in an unexpected density that is somehow backed up by subtle fruit--citrus to my taste buds, but subtle, and the if you really take you time and let the whisky flow across the back of your tongue you'll detect a subtle, fleeting peatiness that does nothing but add intrigue and then is gently buried by sherried orange and a touch more caramel with hints of vanilla. This might be the best sub-$60 whiskey I've ever enjoyed.
If the taste of the wild hedgerow could be bottled then Blair Athol is it hints of wild black berries and wild black currants are there for the taking with a mellow peat back ground it's all there, there is no roughness in it's perfection of flavor which will leave you wanting more and even if its been some years since your last drop. The memory of it's taste is an overwhelming thing that makes you want to come back for more
Upon first tasting this dram, I am struck with the sweat malt, and the almost caramel syrup. Followed by a smooth sweet finish that dries, and it far more complex than most 12yo. This expression is a great deal at this price and I strong recommend two bottles, one to drink and one to keep as a back up gift for any new scotch drinker!
