Blair Athol 11 Years 2009/2021 - The Old Friends
Scotch Universe is a German independent bottler based in Dülmen. In collaboration with their office in Glasgow, they offer special releases under various brands. The "The Old Friends" series showcases single cask bottlings at cask strength - unfiltered and with no added coloring. The marketing approach revolves around presenting these exceptional malts as gifts for old friends. Today, we have a Blair Athol in the glass, matured for 11 years in a red wine barrique cask.
Tasting Notes
Nose
Right from the start, this malt reveals itself as exceptionally robust. Intense notes of red fruits like plums and dark grapes take the center stage. Light walnut aromas and subtly charred notes accompany them. Fresh roasted malt, complemented by a discreet leather note and a touch of pepper, round out the flavor profile.
Palate
The mouthfeel is immediately extremely oily, caressing the palate intensely. As expected, the taste is powerful but less sweet than the nose might suggest. Dried red fruits, a distinctive leather-tobacco note, and pronounced wine aromas characterize this malt. The whole experience is enveloped by intense tannins.
Finish
The finish is medium to long, displaying pronounced oaky spiciness. Reminiscent of mixed peppers, a slight bitterness from the tannins continues to shine.
Thoughts
Marcel 79/100
This Blair Athol 11 Year matured in a Bordeaux cask is like a warming friend on cold days – powerful, robust, and full of character. A dram that’s a joy to drink, truly convincing with its intense fruit notes and smoky leather, even if it occasionally leans a bit too heavily on the tannins.
Sascha 80/100
A well-structured single cask with a clear balance between intense fruit aromas and spicy oak notes. The 54% cask strength supports the oily texture, yet the pronounced tannins and slight bitterness in the finish demand attention and might be polarizing for some palates.
Value for Money: Good
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How does maturation in the red wine barrique influence the flavor of the Blair Athol 11 Year?
The 11 years of maturation in a red wine barrique impart intense notes of red fruits such as plums and dark grapes, along with pronounced tannins and a distinct oaky spiciness on the finish. This cask choice creates a complex combination of fruity, woody, and slightly bitter flavors.
Why does Scotch Universe bottle the Blair Athol 11 Year unfiltered and without added color?
Scotch Universe prioritizes offering the whisky at cask strength, unfiltered, and without added color to preserve the natural aroma and the distinctive characteristics of the single cask unaltered. This ensures an authentic tasting experience that reflects the original maturation and the distillery’s character.
What distinguishes the Blair Athol 11 Year compared to other Highland malts?
The Blair Athol 11 Year stands out with its robust, oily texture and the combination of bold red fruit aromas, leather and tobacco notes, as well as its pronounced wine influence. The maturation in red wine barrique and the cask strength bottling deliver an intense and complex flavor profile that sets it apart from many other Highland malts.