Belgian bottler Asta Morris is just in time for father’s day to present this Blair Athol 1998. Indeed not a common distillery or vintage, which makes us even more curious.

Blair Athol 14 yo 1998
(47,8%, Asta Morris 2012, 345 btl.)

Nose: interesting combo: honeysuckle, linseed oil and some rhubarb compote. Nicely oily and mineral while there’s always a candied sweetness in the background. Hints of marzipan and apple pie. Leather. Whiffs of buttercups. Dusty grains as well. It quickly grabs your attention and keeps showing extra layers. Impressive for a relatively young malt. Mouth: oily / creamy again, quite sweet as well. Pineapple and pear candy, gooseberries, stewed apples and a little vanilla. Then it grows grainier (sweet cereals) and more herbal. Ginger. Grassy notes. Finish: long, candied again, with warming spices now as well.

By now we trust Asta Morris’ Bert Bruyneel in his selections of course. Again this is high quality, interesting and entertaining whisky. Around € 50 which is a bargain price. Only available through 3 Belgian whisky stores: QV.ID, Crombé and Single Malt Whisky Shop.

Score: 89/100

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