Blair Athol, in the Highland town of Pitlochry, traces its whisky making to 1798, when it was founded as Aldour.1,2,3 It closed in 1932, and Arthur Bell & Sons bought it in 1933.2,3,4 After a rebuild, distilling restarted in 1949, and a large share of its whisky goes into Bell's blended Scotch.2,3,4Diageo has owned it since 1997.5,6,7
Outstanding review score, 90 out of 100Outstanding90/100
A small trio of splendid Blair Athol, spanning the years from 2011 back to 1991
Status
Producing, 1798–1932
Silent, 1932–1949
Producing, 1949–today
Name
Aldour, 1798–1825
Blair Athol, 1825–today
1798185019001950Today
Aldour and the Connachers
It was first named Aldour, after the burn that supplied its water, though one heritage record calls it Pitlochrie distillery.1,2,3 John Robertson, named James in one source, revived it in 1825 after an early closure.5,6 That year it took the name Blair Athol, after a nearby village.6 In 1826 Alexander Connacher & Co took it on, leasing it from the Duke of Atholl.2,6,8 In 1860 ownership passed to Elizabeth Connacher.5,6
Sources disagree: when it opened. This page uses 1798.
P. Mackenzie & Co., Distillers Ltd. took over the distillery in 1882.2,5,9 Alfred Barnard's 1887 book described works enlarged since P. Mackenzie & Co., Distillers Ltd. took over, with malt floors and a kiln.8 The malt was dried with peat from Orkney, the water came from Ben Vrackie, and the yearly output was about 60,000 gallons.8
Sources disagree: when P. Mackenzie & Co., Distillers Ltd. took over. This page uses 1882.
The distillery closed in 1932, amid recession and the effects of prohibition in the USA.3,4,5 In 1933 Arthur Bell & Sons paid £56,000 for Blair Athol.2,3,6 Chairman W.G. Farquharson had a traditional architect rebuild it for £75,000, and distilling started again in 1949.2,3,4
Sources disagree: when Arthur Bell & Sons took over. This page uses 1933.
In 1973 the distillery grew from 2 stills to 4.5,6,7 Bell's was being built into the UK's top-selling blended Scotch, and as a result Blair Athol doubled in capacity.5,6,7Guinness bought Arthur Bell & Sons in 1985 and opened a visitor centre at the distillery in 1987.6,9,10 Also in 1987, Guinness combined Arthur Bell & Sons with the Distillers Company to form United Distillers.2,5,9
Next: Four stills and new owners, How it makes its spirit
It has 2 wash stills and 2 spirit stills.2,5 The wash and spirit stills both have a plain shape, and steam heats them.6 Shell and tube condensers cool the still vapour.6 Its 6 washbacks, the fermentation vessels, are 4 of wood and 2 of steel.6,11 Fermentation lasts at most 50 hours, and the malt is unpeated.6,7 Cloudy wort, the sugary water drained from the mash tun with fine particles left in it, and a short fermentation give the spirit its nutty base.6,11 Its water comes from the Allt Dour burn.2,5,6 When the buildings were listed Category B in 2000, the record counted 4 pine and 4 fibreglass washbacks.2 Category B marks special architectural or historic interest.2
