Bladnoch 10
A whisky which has become rather hard to find here in the UK these days. It’s reputation has gathered pace thanks to the likes of Ralfy on Youtube throwing his weighty opinion behind it. I managed to snag a couple of bottles while I had the opportunity, and have spent a few months getting to know it. It has been replaced by an 11 year old expression, which also came with a slightly inflated price tag.
Bladnoch has undergone a lot of change since the new owners purchased it in 2015. In need of updating, most of the equipment was changed before production resumed in 2017. Does that mean we will see a very different Bladnoch in years to come? Quite probably. Replacing the washbacks, mash tun, stills etc. is bound to cause some changes to the character of the spirit. The longer fermentation times from the previous regime have gone out of the window too, due to increases in production.
Now onto the review of the 10;
Nose : Vanilla custard is the big flavour here. Its a lovely light and bright example of the lowland style. Strong scents of honey along with lots of apple, lemon and Campino strawberry and yoghurt sweets (not seen them in years!). Floral notes of heather and gorse.
Palate : Lots of creamy vanilla crème brulee throughout and chopped nuts. Orange peel, toffee apple and spicy black pepper, which lingers in the finish along with ginger, peppermint, honey and oak.
Conclusions : Beautiful! Never mind your sherry or peat bombs, this is a custard bomb and it’s right up my street. Along with the sweet fruits, floral notes and hint of spice, it is everything I love about the ex-bourbon matured style. One of the best I have tried in 2021.
I hope the new Bladnoch will continue to produce quality as good as this, even if it is a slightly different whisky once the newer stock is mature enough to be bottled.
If you see a bottle out in the wild, and it isn’t overpriced, I suggest you grab it while you can. I have no hesitation in giving this a high score.
Score : 9/10
(Score descriptions can be found in the About page)
Three word review : Creamy. Fruity. Floral
Vital statistics
ABV : 46.7%
Non-chill filtered : Yes
Natural Colour : Yes
Maturation : Ex-Bourbon casks
Region : Lowlands
Colour : Straw
