January 28, 2015

Little duels, Blair Athol Duthie vs. LMDW

Blair Athol isn’t a big spirit, that’s why we’ll resort to heavy bottlers today ;-). We’ll have the (even) heavier one as #2 not to take any chances.

Blair Atholl 1967/1983 (92 US Proof, Duthie for Narsai's and Corti Brothers, Pellegrini Imports, USA)

Many people used to write Athol Atholl, this is just another example. But anyway, let’s hope this baby will just be another magical old Corti. Colour: straw. Nose: this is the most honeyed honeyed thing we’ve ever come across. When I mean honey, I’m not meaning ooh-ah commercial honey, rather authentic acacia honey, very subtle, gentle, delicate and floral. And indeed, whiffs of a large bouquet do come out after a short while, roses, lilac and such. This really noses like ‘a florist shop on Sunday morning’. Whatever. Mouth: it’s got this wee metallic side that’s to be found in many old Cadenhead’s (black dumpies), and then it rather goes astray, I’d say. I believe it’s the first whisky in this series that I do not like too much. It’s getting bitter, too grassy, rather sour as well (cheap industrial lemon juice). Things do improve as the lemony side comes to the front, but that’s all. Finish: quite long, a little astringent. Comments: a really fantabulous nose, but an arrival that’s not very difficult, in my opinion, and a middle and a finish that are ‘good, not great’. Very hard to score. SGP:362 - 80 points.

Blair Athol 25 yo 1988/2014 (59.5%, La Maison du Whisky, Artist #4, first fill sherry, cask #7494, 567 bottles)

One L, bravo! Colour: full gold. Nose: this one too is very floral, and despite the fact that it’s first fill sherry, it’s not a sherry monster at all. Some wonderful notes of IPA beer (Lagunitas, really – but I have to confess I know five IPAs, max), so probably fruity hops, then rather oranges, almond oil, orange blossom and a little fresh butter. The sherry tends to make it a little sour and ‘cellary’, but that really works. Old wine barrel. With water: becomes a little muddy, but that’s far from being a fault in this context. Also mead. Mouth (neat): really punchy, a tad metallic at first, then we have the same notes of fruity hoppy beer, perhaps strawberry drops, some mead again for sure, then overripe mirabelles that are about to ferment. Hard to know what’s from the sherry or not, but I enjoy this rather ‘antique’ style. With water: malt and oranges come out. And more Lagunitas ;-). Finish: medium, a little grassier. Orange juice, a few herbs, quinine… Wouldn’t that be Campari-orange? Comments: I find this excellent. We’re far from ‘wham-bam’ whiskies seen elsewhere, and it might be a little introspective, but it’s worth your time. SGP:451 - 87 points.

Check the index of all Blair Athol I've tasted so far

Pete McPeat and Jack Washback