Blair Athol 10 Year Old 2009 Cask 88

Cask 88 is a Scottish company mainly engaged in trading barrels, designing bottles and bottling for companies, particularly in the Far East. But in 2016 they bottled a whisky under their own label for the first time: a 14-year-old Highland Park from 2003. In my glass is a Blair Athol from 2009 that was bottled at cask strength in 2019 in the series The Scotch Express Series: Highland Railway (followed in 2020 by a Benrinnes 2008 and a Fettercairn 2008). It was my good friend Manny who provided me with the sample.

The nose is very green with notes of wild flowers, grass and young branches. This is followed by the aroma of pineapple cubes (the hard candies), apples and lime. After a few minutes of breathing, a lot of caramel kicks in. Smells good, but young.

The body is soft, the malt immediately relatively peppered. White pepper and some licorice dominate. Then the citrus fruit and the apples quickly follow, joined by a good dash of floral honey and the smell of a bouquet of flowers. Fine strength, but as far as I'm concerned, it could have a little more depth and be a bit better balanced.

The finish starts sweet, but then becomes bitter very quickly. A little too bitter to my liking. Lightly drying on the deathbed.

A Blair Athol that comes across as a bit younger than it actually is. Thx, Manny.

Find where to buy Blair Athol whisky