Review #803 - Brave New Spirits Blair Athol 13 Year Single Cask
In March 2026, we had a chance to attend a tasting with Brave New Spirits, an independent bottler, as they launched their products in the United States. This Glasgow-based bottler was established in 2020, and they focus on bottling Scotch whiskies; they're also building Witchburn distillery in Campbeltown. Our tasting centered around releases in their 'Cask Masters' line - this is 1 of 6 reviews from the launch.
Blair Athol is a key component of the Bell's blend from Diageo; it does have an official bottling in the form of a Flora & Fauna release, and there are occasion special versions bottled by Diageo, but it's easier to find this make via independent bottlers. This example was matured in a first fill Oloroso cask for 13 years, and it has a bottling strength of 51.2% ABV.
Brave New Spirits Blair Athol 13 Year Single Cask
Scotland/Highland - Single Malt
Price: USD 116 (2026)
Age Statement: 13 Years
Strength: 51.2% ABV
Cask Makeup: First fill Oloroso sherry hogshead
Details: Cask #308063; distilled November 1, 2011; bottled May 16, 2025; 309 bottles
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 1 time; bottle at 50% fill level at time of review. Tasted in a nosing glass, rested 15+ minutes
Nose: Softer and supple - mellow to start, but it opens up to oats, a bit of oak, and dry straw. Time brings a musty fruit like meaty orange.
Palate: Wood spice and cinnamon, cigar tobacco - a spicy arrival. Malty notes build, and we get oatmeal and a touch of alcohol in the background. Over time, a perfume note builds in the oak profile.
Finish: Sweet brown sugar, stewed fig, cinnamon - the sherry cask shows more now. Oak is strong and a bit tannic, and we get dry straw, malt, and sweet breakfast cereal in the aftertaste.
Final Note: This was a very oak-forward experience for us - there was some more sherry-like fruit in the finish, as well as a bit more malt character, but the palate was all about wood spice and baking spices. The nose felt a little bit muted at first, too - it's a decent single malt, pleasant enough, but this specific single cask didn't do anything special for us.
Value is a bit below average here; Blair Athol isn't always the easiest single malt to find, even via independent bottlers, but we think there are some examples out there with better pricing.
Our Rating: 6.5 / 10
In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.
Value Rating: 5.33
About Us: We're a husband and wife review team living in the Midwest United States. Generally, our reviews and tasting notes will be a compilation of both of our experiences with a whisky over several tasting sessions.
Check out our other Blair Athol reviews:
Review #283 - SMWS Distillery 68 Rare Release 'Bake-Off' - Blair Athol 14 Year
