WhiskyUA is an independent bottler based in Kyiv, Ukraine. The project was born amid the war, in order to reflect the Ukrainian resilience and at the same time support the country’s armed forces and humanitarian causes. They’ve released almost 20 bottlings in two or three years time. With the whisky they’ve funded an ambulance, drones, military clothing, child support foundations, medicine, etc.
For Christmas 2025 they released a Blair Athol #CarolBellsUA. It’s remarkable how little details are mentioned on the label (no age, no vintage, no cask type) but luckily other sources tell us more. It is dedicated to a popular Christmas carol, based on the Ukrainian New Year’s song Shchedryk. The song became popular during a concert tour organised to support the independence of Ukraine. Very relevant today.
Blair Athol 13 yo 2011 ‘CarolBellsUA’ (57,5%, Brave New Spirits for WhiskyUA 2025, first-fill Oloroso sherry barrique finish #308067, 249 btl.)
Nose: rich and aromatic, with raisins, red berries and plums up front. Then good toffee, a mix of hazelnuts and walnuts, as well as milk chocolate. Quite some vanilla underneath. Some plain oak too with more heady hints of orange peels and freshly cut herbs. Modern, rather flawless sherry.
Mouth: full of flavour again. More figs and raisins, along with caramelized nuts. Then there is a stronger wood influence, bringing clove oil, dark chocolate, chestnut purée and some herbs to the table. Firm black pepper too. Mid-palate some brighter red fruits come out, which provides a welcome lift. Overall a little drier on the palate than expected though, with a light bitterness as well.
Finish: medium, leafy, with raisins but also green walnuts, spicy tannins and dark chocolate.
This has become a profile that many bottler seem to master: rich sherry with some fruits but also active wood that is sometimes taking the upper hand. This could have been one of the 100 Proof whiskies from Signatory Vintage in my opinion. Good whisky for a good cause. Head over to WhiskyUA for more information about their bottlings. Peace is what we really want, of course.