Blair Athol Distillery

Despite being founded in 1798 in Pitlochry, Blair Athol Distillery wouldn’t take that name for another 27 years. This Southern Highlands distillery remains little known by single malt lovers as the vast majority of its product is earmarked for blends.

The original distillery was built by John Stewart and Robert Robertson who named it Aldour after the nearby river. However, in 1825 John Robertson changed the name to Blair Athol after expanding the distillery. Water for the distillery comes from the Allt Dour Burn which gave the original distillery its name.

Alexander Connacher & Co took over the distillery in 1826 until it was bought by Peter Mackenzie & Company Distillers in 1882. They carried out further works to renovate and expand production capacity at Blair Athol.

Almost 95% of the spirit produced at Blair Athol is bound for blended whisky production. Bell’s in particular has a long history with the distillery. In 1933 Arthur Bell and Sons bought out Peter Mackenzie & Company Distillers after they mothballed the distillery the year before. But Blair Athol had been providing malt for Bell’s since the brand was first introduced in 1896. That relationship continued when the Guinness Group bought Arthur Bell and Sons in 1985. Both their brand and Blair Athol itself later became a part of Diageo which continued the profitable relationship.

Today Blair Athol runs an 8.2 ton mash tun, six stainless steel washbacks, and four pear shaped stills. The distillery operates five days a week and produces over 2 million litres of spirits a year. Spirits bound for blended whisky and its limited supply of single malts are separated out when sent for maturation. That which will be used for blends is aged in ex-Bourbon casks while the remainder is sherry aged.

The only official distillery single malt bottling available is the 12 year old in the Flora & Fauna range. A rich, sweet whisky, it has notes of toffee and apricots on the nose. Malty and with some sherry spice on the palate, it has a long drying finish. In 2003 Diageo also released a 23 year old Cask Strength for its Rare Malt series, and in 2017.