Cask Masters
Cask Masters is a range of single cask Scotch whiskies from Brave New Spirits. The series is designed to showcase the casks that shape the whisky. “From classic sherry and bourbon, to rare and unconventional finishes like Muscat, White Port, Bordeaux, and Tokaji…“
Blair Athol
One of the oldest distilleries in Scotland, Blair Athol was established in 1798. Originally named after the Allt Dour burn, the first distillery closed after a few short years and re-opened under the current name in 1825. Owned for many years by Arthur Bell & Sons, Blair Athol was absorbed into the vast entity that became Diageo, which remains the distillery’s custodian today.
Blair Athol is perched on the outskirts of the popular tourist village of Pitlochry and, as a result, is one of the most visited distilleries in the country. Despite the frequent footfall, however, the site’s single malt is rarely seen. The only regularly available bottling is a 10-year-old that forms part of the Flora & Fauna series.
Brave New Spirits “Cask Masters” Blair Athol 13 Year Old Review
Tasting notes: Its light appearance suggests a fairly subtle sherry finish. The nose reminds of freshly baked bread, lemon cake, and heather honey. There’s a perfumed, almost botanical quality to it, like rosewater and elderflower. A nuttiness there, too. On the palate, there’s more honey, toffee, walnuts and dried fruits. Creamy milk chocolate. Loads of honey, actually. With water, the toffee turns into a condensed milk, tablet note.
Thoughts: This is a really interesting wee drop and not at all what I was expecting. There’s an unusual spirit character present, and a nice balance between it and the cask. Maybe I expected more bombast from the sherry finish, but the unexpected soft touch isn’t a bad thing. More of a curiosity than a guaranteed belter, but still the sort of dram that pulls you in. It challenges you to come around to its way of doing things. Surprising and intriguing.
Price: £75.00. Pretty standard pricing for this sort of expression. One for those who like to take their whisky seriously and are happy to dedicate time to unravelling its mysteries. If you’re looking for an easy sipper or a sherry bomb, this ain’t the one.
Visit Cask Masters here.
Visit Blair Athol here.
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