I made my way to Blair Castle yesterday for one of their newest experiences: Blair Castle Whisky Talk & Tour.
We were very warmly welcomed by Keren Guthrie, the senior archivist at Blair Castle, who led this private tour and focused on the rooms which were important to tell the whisky stories of Blair Castle (your ticket includes a general admission so you can tour all 30 rooms at your own leisure once the whisky tour has finished).
In 2022 40 bottles of whisky were discovered in one of Blair Castles cellars with a note stating distilling date of 1833, first bottled in 1841 and then rebottled in 1932. These dates were verified by both Edinburgh and Glasgow University. The whisky still was above 60% of alcohol.
24 of them were auctioned in November and December of 2023 and sold for £385.000. They may have come from the Edradour or Tullimet Distillery. However, they may have been distilled illicitly on the estate itslef.
Queen Victoria during her visit at Blair Castle may have even been drinking some of this whisky. Four bottles of whiskies were consumed at her visit according to the house hold book.
Sadly, your whisky Talk & Tour will not let you try the oldest whisky but you will be presented with a flight of whiskies relating to Blair Castle: a cask strength Blair Castle, which is a Berinnes cask bought and bottled by the estate, a 15 year old Tullibardine at 43 % and a Triple Wood Glenturret 43%. The estate has applied for a license and hope to add a tastingto the tour, which will be in the library (which is not open to the public) in 2025, which would certainly add to this experience.
Keren’s expertise added a true authenticity to the very interesting tour of the story of whisky at Blair Castle, from the records kept to the very origins of the family obtaining their influence in Scotland and being granted this estate. You will get to see some of the bottles discovered as well as an old still, but also old tools used by the exise officers to detect the illicit liquid. It is a tour offering quite a different perspective and certainly is fascinating!
