Bladnoch is another distillery that I am still a bit unaware of. There seems to be a lot of standard versions out there, and also a vast array of IB bottlings. But I, just like with Linkwood, cannot seem to recall any of them standing out, even if having tried quite a few. Remember, it was closed for a period not that long ago, so there should be some stock left from prior owners.
Bladnoch 11yo 1988-2000 43% Signatory Vintage cask#42003
Light golden color, smells floral and spirity, typical lowland-style, except that spirity sensation that stings a bit. The taste is gentle, iodine, floral, greenhouse air, pollen, a very nice and gentle whisky, more in the style of irish whiskey. Not that thats a bad thing. It works brilliantly here, and I don't think many other whiskies could have carried such light tastes without being dominated by the alcohol. A very light and gentle spirit it seems. The finish is marzipan, and banana cream liqueur, thick and sweet. A very nice rebound from S/V after some disappointing bottlings from their ranges lately.
It's a perfect drinking whisky, just in danger of becoming too subtle: 7
Bladnoch 11yo 1983-1994 43% James MacArthur's
One of the many bottlings James MacArthur's did to commemorate the 500th anniversary of scotch whisky. As you might know, the oldest printed mentions of scotch whisky dates back to year 1494. A dark orange hue. Some sherry casks involved here? It smells roasted and burnt. roasted onions, bitter, thyme, pork ribs, earthy, salty, briny, barbecue sauce, french mustard, certainly the biggest and boldest Bladnoch I've ever come across. The taste is much lighter, honey and toffee, rice vinegar, cinnamon, ginger, sweet onions. Another example that these rather light fragrances totally dominates any notes of alcohol. I could only guess what could've happened if this was matured in more active casks and bottled at cask strength.
Subtle, leaning more to my taste preference, but overall it's the same quality as last one: 7
Bladnoch 13yo 46% Cadenhead's
No vintage, but by the looks of it bottled somewhere back in the 80's, the oldest one so far then. Light amber hue. It smells melted butter and beer production (ever walked by a beer brewery when in full production?). I know it's hard to describe some of these petit suggestions when nosing an otherwise lifeless and tamed whisky. The taste is light and sweet, really nothing going on in this one, some hints of sweet licorice and sunflower oil.
Boring from a to z: 2 (because there was no off-notes)
Bladnoch 13yo 46% OB
Same age statement and %abv. as the last one, but a much more recent bottling. Let's not make a comparison between those two, but rather stick with the two 11yo ones in this tasting as reference points. Light golden color. It smells far more punchy than all prior ones in this tasting. Straws, perfumy, floral, dry cider, apple vinegar, mustard, sardines in oil, black peppers, actually a very pleasant surprise as I think this is the way the industry are heading these days. Some years back there were much older and tired stock in the vattings, nowadays I believe a 13yo doesn't contain much whisky older than 13yo. The taste is light and sweet, very sweet, honey and vanilla, cream, sweet biscuits, almonds, vanilla pie, some bakery treats been in the cask? The aftertaste is more of the bland kind, short and without personality, like this, but thankfully much shorter: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGzDrLKNu18
If looking past the finish, or just prior to that, it's a very good whisky: 6
Bladnoch 6yo 57.3% OB
A bottling named "Spirit of the Lowlands", supposedly the first whisky bottled from Bladnoch, all produced after the new owners took over, actually I believe it's now owned by a company that holds no other stocks in the whisky business. And they bottle a lot of casks from other distilleries, as an IB, which I surely do like if I purchase, as I know my money goes to something very close to a distillery. The color is like white wine, which is to be expected from a 6yo bourbon matured whisky. It smells spirity and sweet, all on vanilla and wax. perfumy. The taste is vanilla and waxy, oily, fat, a very rich and enticing whisky, but it lacks some real flavors. Vanilla being the one that stands out. It has a soapy distraction in the finish which makes the whole experience a bit less pleasant, but overall it looks good for the future.
What you'd expect from a young CS bourbon lowlander, nothing more, nothing less: 4
Next tasting: Allt-Á-Bhainne Distillery
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