Description

Blair Athol 2008 Aged 14 Years Single Malt Scotch Whisky – Infrequent Flyers #88 (700ml)

Volume: 700ml           ABV: 53%           Age: 14 Years Old           Country: Scotland

Cask Number: 807413
Date of Distilling: 2008
Matured In: a Pedro Ximenez Sherry Puncheon with a Pedro Ximenez Sherry Cask Finish
Un-Chillfiltered

Alistair Walker is a highly respected figure in the Scotch whisky industry, with over two decades of experience. He held significant roles at Burn Stewart Distillers and The BenRiach Distillery Company (which also owned GlenDronach and Glenglassaugh), giving him deep insight into many distilleries and aspects of production. He established his own independent bottling company, the Alistair Walker Whisky Company, in 2018. This is his flagship brand, launched in July 2019. The name “Infrequent Flyers” cleverly alludes to his philosophy: he seeks out and bottles whiskies from a diverse range of distilleries, often those that are less commonly seen as single malts or whose single malt expressions are not frequently available. It also hints at the unique, sometimes unexpected, character of the individual casks he selects. Alistair is deeply committed to presenting whiskies in their most authentic form. His releases are consistently, single cask bottlings, un-chillfiltered, natural colour and cask strength.

The Blair Athol Distillery is situated at the southern end of Pitlochry, in Perthshire, within the Highland region of Scotland. It stands at the “gateway to the Highlands.” Its water source, the Allt Dour (meaning “burn of the otter”), flows from the slopes of Ben Vrackie and is said to contribute to its mellow quality. Founded in 1798 by John Stewart and Robert Robertson under the name “Aldour Distillery,” Blair Athol is one of Scotland’s oldest continuously operating distilleries. It was rebuilt and reopened in 1825. It was acquired by Arthur Bell & Sons (famous for Bell’s Blend) just before World War II, rebuilt significantly in 1949, and later became part of Diageo (via Guinness acquiring Bell’s). Blair Athol is known for producing a robust, warming, and often sweet and nutty spirit. The vast majority, up to 99.7%, of Blair Athol’s spirit is used as a crucial “heart” component in blended whiskies, most notably Bell’s Blended Scotch Whisky and also in Johnnie Walker. Due to this high demand for blends, official single malt bottlings (beyond its 12-year-old in the Flora & Fauna series) are quite rare, making independent bottlings like this one highly sought after.

This is a Highland single malt Scotch whisky, distilled at Blair Athol in 2008 and matured for 14 years. It was bottled from cask #807413, which was a Pedro Ximénez Sherry Puncheon and was also finished in a Pedro Ximénez Sherry Cask. This double dose of PX sherry, combined with Blair Athol’s sturdy spirit, promises a rich and sweet experience. It was bottled at a cask strength of 53% ABV and was a limited release of 680 bottles

Our Tasting Notes

Nose: Rich and inviting with intense aromas of dark fruits like figs, sultanas, and morello cherries. Expect notes of cocoa, baked apples, apple strudel, and  a hint of Christmas pudding or treacle. There’s a deep, sweet complexity.

Palate: Deliciously full-bodied, viscous, and chewy. It coats the mouth with flavours of molten brown sugars, dark chocolate, crème brûlée, and sweet treacle. The red/dark fruit notes continue from the nose, with hints of liquorice and a touch of star anise or other baking spices. Described as well-integrated despite its richness.

Finish: Long, warming, and very sweet, with lingering notes of dark chocolate, treacle, and a building peppery spice. The dried fruit and sherry influence remains prominent.

This particular bottling sounds like a quintessential sherry-matured Highland dram, showcasing how well Blair Athol’s spirit can handle and integrate with active sherry wood.