Description

Blair Athol 2011 Aged 13 Years Single Malt Scotch Whisky – Cask Strength Collection By Signatory Vintage #6 (700ml)

Volume: 700ml           ABV: 57.5%           Age: 13 Years Old           Country: Scotland

Cask Number(s): #9
Date of Distilling: 30.09.2011
Date of Bottling: 23.05.2025
Matured In: 1st Fill Ruby Port Hogshead
Un-Chillfiltered

The Whisky

Dive into the opulent, “red-fruit” side of the Highlands with the Blair Athol 13 Year Old 2011 (Signatory Vintage Cask Strength Collection #9). This 700ml single malt is a rare departure from the distillery’s usual sherry-heavy profile. Distilled on September 30, 2011, and bottled in 2025, this expression has been matured in a 1st Fill Ruby Port Hogshead.

As part of the prestigious Cask Strength Collection, it is bottled at a potent 57.5% ABV. Cask #9 is a highly limited release, yielding exactly 301 bottles. The interaction between Blair Athol’s naturally robust, nutty spirit and the vibrant, syrupy influence of first fill Ruby Port has created a dram that is both “meaty” and decadently fruity.

Our Tasting Notes

Nose: Immediately vibrant and “jammy.” You are greeted by a lush wave of raspberry jam and red currants, followed by the festive scent of toffee apples and hazelnut brittle. As it breathes, the Port influence reveals deeper notes of plum preserve and a hint of ginger, underpinned by the classic Blair Athol aroma of malted barley and toasted nuts.

Palate: The arrival is thick, sweet, and “mouth-filling.” It delivers a primary burst of Port-soaked sponge cake and strawberry preserve, which quickly evolves into a mid-palate of dark chocolate and candied orange peel. The high proof provides a warming structure of cloves and nutmeg, perfectly balancing the rich, red berry sweetness with a savoury, earthy oak depth.

Finish: Long, silky, and beautifully spiced. The finish lingers with a final flourish of tart red berries and cocoa, finally tapering off with a clean, warming trail of toasted oak and lingering wine tannins.

The Distillery

Blair Athol, located in the picturesque town of Pitlochry, is one of Scotland’s oldest working distilleries, founded in 1798. A unique factual detail: Its ivy-covered buildings are some of the most photographed in the whisky world, but the spirit inside is far from “pretty”—it is famous for being exceptionally robust and brawny. Over 90% of its production is traditionally used as the core “weight” in Bell’s Blended Scotch. Because most independent casks that escape are matured in sherry, this Ruby Port maturation (Cask #9) is a rare find, highlighting a different, more opulent side of this Highland workhorse.

Overall Review

The Blair Athol 13 Year Old 2011 Signatory Cask Strength #9 is globally reviewed as a “fruit-bomb masterpiece,” praised for its seamless integration of wine and malt. Critics have lauded its “rich, velvety texture and vibrant berry profile,” marking it as a mandatory purchase for those who enjoy the “dark and fruity” style of a Port-finished Dalmore or Glenmorangie, but with the added intensity of a single cask strength release.