Blair Athol 2007/2022 Signatory 14 year old Sherry Butt Single Highland Malt Whisky 54,3%

Eleven years in a quiet refill hogshead, then almost three more in a sherry butt at the end. It is a cask history where the order matters: the spirit was allowed to be itself first, and the sherry came afterwards.

Expert description

Blair Athol 2007/2022 Signatory 14 Years is a Single Highland Malt Whisky from a Refill Hogshead finished for 35 months in a Sherry Butt and bottled at cask strength, 54.3%.

Signatory Vintage bought the Blair Athol spirit, distilled on 7 September 2007, and bottled it on 19 January 2022 as part of the house's Cask Strength Collection. The run is 670 bottles, which fits a butt, and the whisky is neither chill filtered nor coloured.

Blair Athol's heavy, nutty spirit is good company for a sherry cask. Thirty-five months is a long finishing period, so the cask has had the chance to reach further into the whisky than a typical six to twelve month finish.

Tasting notes

Nose

Raisin and dark sugar with walnut, orange peel and a breath of leather.

Palate

Full and oily with dried fruit, cinnamon and roasted nuts. The sherry sits heavily, but the malty core of the spirit shines through.

Finish

Long and warm with nuts, dark chocolate and a trace of tobacco.

Specifications

Name: Blair Athol 2007/2022 Signatory 14 Years Sherry Butt Single Highland Malt Whisky 54.3%
Distillery: Blair Athol
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region/Country: Highlands, Scotland
Type: Single Highland Malt Whisky
Age: 14 years
ABV: 54,3%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Refill Hogshead finished for 35 months in a Sherry Butt, Cask No. 1
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 07/09/2007
Bottled: 19/01/2022
Number of bottles: 670
Edition: Cask Strength Collection

Flavour profile

Sherried · Nutty · Spiced · Dark fruit · Powerful

Investment potential

Medium. A bottling of 670 bottles from a series that is not repeated, with an unusually long sherry finish.

Did you know?

Signatory Vintage was founded in 1988 and is based at Edradour in Pitlochry — less than ten kilometres from Blair Athol. The whisky did not have far to travel.

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Frequently asked questions about Blair Athol 2007/2022 Signatory 14 Years Sherry Butt Single Highland Malt Whisky 54.3%

What is a sherry butt?

One of the largest casks used for whisky, typically around 500 litres. The greater volume gives a lower wood to liquid ratio, so the influence works more slowly but often more evenly.

What does a 35 month finish mean?

That the whisky spent nearly three years in the sherry cask after its original maturation. That is longer than a standard finish and means the sherry character is integrated rather than merely laid on top.

Is it worth the money?

Cask strength, no filtration, a long sherry finish and a limited run from a distillery whose single malt rarely reaches the shelves. It is the combination that carries the bottle.

How is it best enjoyed?

Neat first, for the full impression, then with a little water. At 54.3% a few drops clearly open the dried fruit and spice.

What characterises Signatory Vintage?

The house buys single casks from across Scotland and bottles them under its own name, often at cask strength and without filtration. Signatory also owns the Edradour distillery.

What is the difference between oloroso and other sherry cask types?

Oloroso is the most widely used and gives nuts, raisin and dark sugar. Pedro Ximénez brings heavier sweetness, while fino and amontillado give drier, saltier notes. See more sherried whiskies under Scotch Whisky.