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Berry Bros. & Rudd Blair Athol 2013 (Cask #303637) Review

Explore the distinct character of Blair Athol 12 Year Old Highland malt, matured in a Margaux red wine cask and bottled by Berry Bros & Rudd. This limited release offers a complex palate of dark fruits, spices, and lingering malty notes, showcasing a unique twist on the distillery's traditional style.

OVERALL RATING

8
$112
  • Mark Bostock, a whisky enthusiast specializing in independent bottlings.
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Tasting Notes

About:

A 12-year-old Highland malt from Blair Athol, released as part of independent bottler Berry Bros. & Rudd’s Single Cask: Crafted in Cask collection. Distilled in 2013, and matured for 12 years in a hogshead cask, before a finishing period in a Margaux red wine cask. Only 290 bottles were produced, bottled without artificial colouring or chill filtration at natural cask strength of 57.8% ABV.
Appearance:
Pale Gold
Nose:
Opens with blackcurrant sweetness, reminiscent of wine gum sweets. Notes of sweet milk and white chocolate follow, before orange peel zest and malt. There are hints of cinnamon and all spice.
Palate:
Dark fruits open for a vinous mouthfeel, led by blackcurrant alongside blackberry and damson, accompanied by orange peel zest. Gives way to a slightly herbaceous note of thyme, before spicy notes of clove, black pepper and a hint of liquorice root. Oaky spice and wine tannins develop and dominate, with escalating bitterness.
Finish:
Long, with lingering malty notes. There’s a final hit of vinous dark and red berry fruits with spicy oak before bitterness returns.
Comments:
As Blair Athol’s only official bottling is a Flora & Fauna 12 Year Old expression and the majority of the distillery’s output is destined for Diageo’s blends, independent cask strength bottlings offer the chance to really showcase Blair Athol’s distillery style. Most often, Blair Athol releases use sherry cask maturation.

This Berry Bros. & Rudd Blair Athol, using the Margaux red wine cask finish offers the opportunity to sample a bottling which differs from the distillery’s known style. The Margaux cask influence is evident with the rich and vinous dark fruit notes and oaky spice, although at points this briefly seems to become very astringent. Despite this, I particularly enjoyed the lingering malty notes and layers throughout.

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.

Mark Bostock

Mark Bostock, an integral part of the Mark Littler LTD UK content writing team since 2019, brings a genuine passion for whisky, especially independent bottlings, to his work. His commitment to expanding his knowledge through attending tasting events and building his own collection enriches his contributions, blending expertise with enthusiasm.

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