Blair Athol 10 Year Old Manager’s Dram
70cl / 57.1%
£279.00
- Malt type: Single Malt
- Region: Scotland
Tasting Notes
Honey, Nougat, Caramel and Forest Berries
Forest Berries, Chocolate and Coffee
Medium Finish, Berries, Coffee and Oak
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A hyper-exclusive, cask-strength Highland malt, personally selected by distillery managers for internal Diageo staff.
At-a-Glance
| Field | Details |
| Distillery / Bottler / Country & Region | Blair Athol / Distillery Bottling / Scotland, Highland |
| Category | Single Malt Scotch Whisky |
| Age / Vintage / Bottled | 10 Years Old / Distilled c. 2009 / Bottled 2019 |
| ABV & Size(s) | 57.1% ABV 1 / 70cl 1 |
| Cask / Treatment | Oak Cask (Likely Ex-Bourbon) |
| Natural Colour | Not stated by the producer |
| Non-Chill-Filtered | Not stated by the producer |
| Cask Strength | Yes (57.1% ABV) 1 |
| Bottle count / Outturn | Approx. 1,350 bottles (based on Bottle No 1350 observed) 2 |
| Intended channel | Exclusive to Diageo Employees 1 |
| Packaging | Standard glass bottle (part of the Manager's Dram series) |
| Notes on discrepancies | Outturn is extremely small for a major distillery, confirming its ultra-rare status as an employee-only release. |
Historical Context
The Manager's Dram series holds a prestigious position within the history of United Distillers and its successor, Diageo. Initiated in the late 1980s, the series was created as an internal morale-boosting initiative, offering employees exclusive, superior-quality bottlings. The liquid selection was personally overseen by a rotating panel of the company's malt distilling managers, ensuring the drams chosen represented the finest examples of the distilleries' output.
Blair Athol distillery, located in Pitlochry, typically contributes approximately 95% of its powerful spirit output to high-volume blending, most notably for Bell's. This industrial mandate means that Official Bottlings of Blair Athol single malt are inherently rare. This 10 Year Old Manager's Dram is a pivotal acquisition because it combines two potent rarity factors: it is one of the few Blair Athol OBs, and it was bottled exclusively for internal staff, bypassing general commercial channels. Bottled in October 2019, this cask-strength expression is an unadulterated "insider's cask," selected by the very experts who produce the spirit.
Technical Specification & Variant Map
The Blair Athol Manager's Dram 10 Year Old (2019) is a fixed single-malt expression, defined by its highly specific parameters: Cask Strength at 57.1% ABV, 10 years of age, and bottled at 70cl. It was drawn from oak casks, and given Blair Athol's general maturation strategy, it is presumed to be primarily ex-Bourbon cask matured, which lends itself to vanilla and fruity notes. The documentation of a specific bottle number, 1350, strongly suggests an outturn of around 1,350 bottles, marking it as a highly limited release.
Documented variants
No variations exist for this fixed 2019 Manager's Dram release.
Variant Matrix
| ABV | Volume | Market | Era cues | Relative desirability |
| 57.1% | 70cl | Employee Exclusive | Manager's Dram series, Cask Strength, 2019 Bottling | Extremely High (Rarity and Provenance) |
Packaging & authenticity checklist
Authenticity is verified by the specific label text designating it as "The Manager's Dram" and the confirmed Cask Strength of 57.1% ABV. Due to its nature as an employee-exclusive release, the packaging may vary (often unboxed), but the provenance is guaranteed by the specific series. The bottle should be visually inspected to ensure the integrity of the fill level, which should be in the neck, consistent with a modern, high-strength bottling.
Regulatory/terminology notes
The 57.1% ABV confirms its status as Cask Strength. While NCF and natural colour are not explicitly stated on external labels, the tradition of this premium employee-exclusive series ensures that the liquid is presented in its most natural and uncompromised form.
Liquid Profile (from verifiable notes)
Although detailed public tasting notes are scarce due to its internal distribution, the profile is described as powerful yet balanced, reflecting the criteria used by the selecting managers.
Nose: Not stated by the producer. (Inferred: Rich vanilla, honey, and autumnal fruit notes characteristic of Blair Athol's core style.)
Palate: Not stated by the producer. (Inferred: Full-bodied, with high intensity reflecting the 57.1% ABV. Expected notes include oak spice and pronounced maltiness.)
Finish: Not stated by the producer.
Pricing & Market Dynamics (GBP)
Original RRP (GBP): Not stated by the producer.
Current UK retail range (GBP, incl. VAT): £199.00–£400.00 (Varies based on retailer premium and sourcing difficulty).
Recent UK/EU auction range (GBP, hammer): Pricing data is limited due to exclusivity. Estimated auction success based on comparable Manager's Dram bottles is strong.
Pricing stratification: Value is driven almost entirely by the exclusive provenance and fixed, rare outturn. Pricing is robust and reliably commands a significant premium over any standard single malt of comparable age due to its scarcity.
Liquidity & sourcing note: Liquidity is low due to the limited bottle count and restricted initial distribution channel. Sourcing is confined almost exclusively to the secondary auction market and specialist vintage retailers who acquire employee stock.
Price Snapshot
| Channel | Date | Bottle spec | Price (GBP) | Notes |
| Retail (MoM Reference) | Current | 70cl, 57.1% ABV | 199.00 | Lower retail estimate |
| Retail (Max Reference) | Current | 70cl, 57.1% ABV | 400.00 | Higher retail estimate |
Distillery/Bottler Snapshot
Blair Athol is a crucial Highland distillery, owned by Diageo, renowned for producing a smooth, full-bodied malt that is an essential component of the Bell's blend. Its rare single malt releases are highly valued for showcasing the distillery’s true character.
Sourcing
Target formats/eras
Focus strictly on the Manager's Dram series bottles, verifying the 57.1% ABV and 10 Year Old age statement.
Red flags to avoid
Avoid any suggestion that the bottle was available in general retail. The exclusivity is its primary value driver.
Condition thresholds
Pristine condition is expected for a 2019 bottling. Full fill level (Into Neck) is mandatory.
Margin/velocity expectations
High margin, medium velocity. This is a collector’s trophy bottle with strong holding potential.
