Blair Athol 2011/2023 - 11 yo - Cask Noir #302112 - Ivy by the embers

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 57.6% | Chill filtration: No | Colouring: No

Special Features:

An Ex Islay Bourbon Hogshead shapes this smoky single-cask release from Blair Athol. Ivy by the Embers belongs to Brave New Spirits’ Cask Noir series, bringing together a Highland single malt and the influence of a cask that previously held Islay whisky. Smoke sits alongside floral and lemon notes, with white hyacinths, morning blossoms and an impression of freshly washed linen adding to the profile.

The whisky was distilled in April 2011 and bottled after eleven years, in March 2023. Cask 302112 yielded 254 bottles, each containing 0.7 litres. It was bottled at its cask strength of 57.6%, without chill filtration or added colouring.

Cask Noir’s design draws on the visual language of vintage cinema posters. Each edition has its own label and a film-inspired name linked to its distillery of origin. Ivy by the Embers won Superior Gold at the Tokyo Whisky & Spirits Competition in 2024 and received a bronze medal at the International Wine & Spirits Competition.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: Smoke emerges as the whisky is poured, then recedes after a few minutes in the glass. The aromas recall light-coloured milk chocolate mousse, orange juice and grated orange zest, as well as gooseberries and currants. A little water brings out faint smoky notes again.
• Palate: The whisky feels creamy on the palate, recalling nut cream and vanilla cream. Smoke remains in the background, providing a restrained foundation for these flavours.
• Finish: A subtle smoky note combines with chocolate impressions on the finish. Malty and nutty notes linger, recalling a nut-and-cream cake.

Distillery/Bottler:

Founded in 1798 in Pitlochry, Perthshire, Blair Athol is among Scotland’s oldest legal distilleries. It stands at the foot of the Grampian Hills. The Allt Dour flows through the distillery grounds, supplying water used in whisky production. Its Gaelic name brings together the words for a small watercourse and an otter.

Brave New Spirits is responsible for selecting and bottling this edition. Founded in 2020, the company operates as an independent whisky bottler and blender in Glasgow, where it has its own bonded warehouse. An experienced tasting panel assesses the casks for Cask Noir, with flavour the main criterion for selection. Alongside traditional maturation, the series explores unusual wine and spirit casks, focusing on their influence on each distillate.

Facts: