Distillery
Blair Athol is a Scottish distillery in the Highlands, in the town of Pitlochry, founded in 1798 by John Stewart and Robert Robertson, making it one of the oldest legal whiskey stills in Scotland. Originally named Aldour after the stream that supplied it with water, it changed its name to Blair Athol in 1825, probably inspired by the nearby castle and the Duke of Athol.
Due to economic problems, it was closed between 1932 and 1949. It was then re-commissioned by Arthur Bell & Sons and its single malt whiskey became an important part of Bell's blend, one of the UK's best-selling blended whiskies.
Blair Athol distillate has a heavier character with a nutty and malty flavour, which is ideally developed by aging in ex-sherry casks, although most of the distillate is aged in ex-bourbon casks for blending purposes.
As a single malt, Blair Athol officially appears only in the Flora & Fauna series and in limited editions. Today, Diageo owns the distillery.
Bottle
Blair Athol 1975 is a single malt whisky, distilled in 1975 and bottled in April 2003 after 27 years of aging as part of the prestigious Rare Malts Selection series. This range focuses on limited bottlings of exceptional and rare whiskies, often from closed distilleries or very old stocks. The whiskies in this series are bottled at cask strength, without chill filtration or added coloring, ensuring their authentic character.
Nose: Medium rich, with notes of polished oak, hints of chestnut puree, butter, cakes, and chocolate chip cookies.
Taste: Full and robust, nutty, with notes of hazelnut spread and chestnuts, combined with a delicate sweetness.
Finish: Long, with lingering notes of orange peel and chocolate, adding sophistication to the whisky.
The auctioned bottle is numbered 2418/6000, and this bottling is highly sought after by whisky connoisseurs and collectors alike.
