Once again, the distilleries nestled in the Highlands of Scotland don't disappoint. In this case, the venerable Blair Athol Distillery has unveiled a new expression of their craft: a 20 Year Old Single Malt!

Said to be born from an exploration into novel cask techniques, this particular expression has been matured in refill casks and part-finished in a combination of classic rejuvenated casks, wine-seasoned American oak, wine-seasoned European oak, and (for control) refill casks.

This rather unorthodox (and frankly quite tedious) maturation process comes together to present layers of fruitiness that include sweet aromas of tropical fruit and chocolate, which are in turn balanced by a nutty spiciness of ginger cake and Christmas pudding on the palate. 

Described by whisky expert and author, Charles MacLean as “an intriguing and captivating whisky”, the expression is said to have:

Appearance: Polished brass, rich amber with orange highlights. Exceptional beading with thick, slow-running legs.

Nose: Mellow, with light initial prickle. Aromatic top notes of green grapes, ripe papaya, and mango, with subtle milk chocolate and sweet fondant hints. A touch of sandalwood spice emerges.

Body: Medium to full.

Palate: Rich and creamy texture. Lightly sweet and crisp fruit flavours lead to warming spices, reminiscent of Christmas pudding and sticky ginger cake. Neat, it delivers an intense, balanced spice. With a drop of water, sweeter fruit and gentle spice emerge.

Finish: Long, warming, and glowing with lingering spice, leaving a tingle on the tongue. At reduced strength, sweetness becomes more pronounced while maintaining its peppery finish.

For those with some time to spare, you can join the distillery on 11 April for the grand launch of the 20 Year Old, which allows you to enjoy a guided tasting with whisky author Charles MacLean, innovation lead Dani McCann, and private client director Tod Bradbury. The event will also feature gourmet canapés and live music by Shaun Lowrey.

Tickets for the launch are available at Malts.com for £55.

With only 1002 bottles available worldwide, each will retail for £400 per 70cl bottle at 52.8% ABV. The limited edition will be sold at Blair Athol Distillery from April 1st for one month, after which it will be available online at Malts.com from May 1st, 2025.

Kanpai!

88 Bamboo Editorial Team