Bladnoch Distillery has unveiled their single malt range at an intimate masterclass at Eau de Vie Sydney with Master Distiller, Ian MacMillan.
Located in the south west of Scotland, Bladnoch Distillery is one of six remaining lowland distilleries and one of the oldest whisky producers in Scotland. The distillery was founded in 1817 by Thomas McClelland, and remained in the family’s hands until 1930 when the Belfast distilling company acquired it. Bladnoch had several owners and was once distilling as part of Bell’s then it ceased production for many years. In 2015, Australian businessman David Prior purchased it and set to revive the distillery with master distiller and blender Ian MacMillan, former Burn Stewart Master Blender.
Ian MacMillan
Bladnoch Distillery currently produces Pure Scot and Bladnoch lowland single malt Scotch whiskies. Here are the tasting notes of Bladnoch Single Malts as well as Pure Scot:
Pure Scot (40%) is a contemporary blend combining Bladnoch single malt, island malts, aged Speyside and Highland malts with select grain whiskies. 24 malts and 3 grain whiskies go into the making of the blend. Crafted for the modern consumer, Pure Scot was not designed to compete with what was already available on the market but to appeal to a new generation of whisky drinkers by offering versatility where it can be enjoyed neat or on the rocks as well as holding up well in cocktails.
Bladnoch Samsara (46.7% ABV) means “new beginning” and is named as a tribute to the rebirth of the 200 year old distillery. The NAS single malt is aged in first fill American oak and American oak wine casks and ex Californian wine casks which give the whisky a unique character. The nose has concentrated fruit along with a sweet fruit compote which leads to a winey palate, vanilla, citrus and some plums. Smooth and viscous, it is a little chewy which gives it good structure and leads to a mid to long finish with soft spice. Bladnoch Samsara is a luscious dram with a unique flavour profile that makes for fine sipping.
Bladnoch Adela (46.7% ABV) is a 15 yo single malt aged in ex Oloroso sherry casks and exhibits the typical rich sherry nose with fruit and spice, a palate that is rich in fruit cake notes, warm spice, coffee and dark chocolate on the back palate. The finish is surprisingly short for a dram of its kind nevertheless it would please fans of sherried single malts.
Bladnoch are about to release Bladnoch Talia (49.2% ABV), a 25 year old single malt with a new oak cask finish. The tasting notes state that is has a mature nose of waxy, cedar, polished oak, ginger, vanilla with a spicy and silky palate with gingerbread, some honey, vanilla, sweet oak with a hint of Seville orange and coconut biscuity maltiness.
Bladnoch Samsara retails at RRP $149 AUD, Bladnoch Adela at RRP $179 AUD and Bladnoch Talia at RRP $350 AUD.
Photography © by Gourmantic – Copyright: All rights reserved.
