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| Hi, this is one of our (almost) daily tastings. Santé! |
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November 6, 2024 |
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WF’s Little Duos, today Bladnoch young OB vs older IB |
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Bladnoch 13 yo (46.7%, OB, Heritage Collection, bourbon barrel, +/-2024) 
Colour: white wine. Nose: it opens with a sharp lemony edge, which soon mellows into a more refined array of yellow fruits. Think quince and peaches, with a gentle floral touch emerging—mostly jasmine. There's the faintest hint of coconut from the bourbon cask, but nothing too assertive. Mouth: a very typical Bladnoch, even reminiscent of those from the UD/Diageo days, perhaps akin to a Rare Malt. Fresh citrus, a touch of mullein syrup, herbal sweets (think Ricola), and a bit of acacia honey, followed by the inevitable vanilla from the cask. It goes down effortlessly, though it doesn't quite have the sprightly refreshment of the younger, zestier Bladnochs of old now. Finish: medium length, leaning more into yellow plums, with lovely oranges and tangerines lingering in the aftertaste. Comments: as they say, it's Bladnoch through and through, and we certainly appreciate the absence of any wine cask influence.
SGP:651 - 85 points. |
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Bladnoch 1991/2022 (45%, Malts of Scotland, Rare Casks, bourbon hogshead, cask #MoS 22011, 233 bottles) 
There are some real gems in this series. Colour: white wine. Nose: well, here’s pure Bladnoch, completely distillate-driven. Oranges, woodruff, elderflower, acacia blossom, lime, and honeysuckle, then the tiniest touches of caraway and poppy seeds, with faint hints of cranberry at the end. It all flows beautifully under your nose, like a well-choreographed parade. Mouth: a delightful fruit salad with juicy, fresh western fruit notes and a few tropical nuances—banana, fresh pineapple—and a slight metallic note I find utterly charming, almost as if a small nail had been bouncing around in the hogshead for all those thirty years. Absolutely endearing. Finish: excellent length, fresh and vibrant, full of citrus and delicate aromatic herbs, with just a drop of yellow Chartreuse. Comments: simply magnificent in its elegant simplicity, with no outside influences on the distillate—except for that tiny, probably entirely imaginary wee nail.
SGP:651 - 91 points. |
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Bladnoch 33 yo 1988/2022 (54.1%, Gordon & MacPhail, Connoisseurs Choice, for Kensington Wine Market, refill sherry hogshead, cask #2107, 53 bottles)
We find ourselves in Calgary here. A 33-year-old Bladnoch isn’t exactly something you stumble upon every day. Worth noting, these 53 bottles were all that remained in the hogshead at the time of bottling. Colour: pale, almost white wine, quite striking in its paleness. Nose: an extraordinary tension between green apple and lime, with subtle touches of sorrel, diesel, chalk, and slate in the background. There's also a hint of under-ripe guava, rowanberry eau-de-vie, and the faintest whisper of honey. Absolutely ‘Bladnoch’, reminiscent of those old official bottlings for Italy. With water: not much change, perhaps a nod towards old Sauvignon Blanc, especially from Pessac-Léognan. Mouth (neat): simply beautiful, with notes of rose jelly, overripe kiwi, Gewurztraminer, yellow peach, lychees, and violets. This time, we’ve strayed far from the citrus, and it wouldn’t be surprising if the concentration from evaporation has kind of altered the palate's profile. And it’s worked a treat. With water: surprisingly lovely touches of lavender, geranium, and grapefruit, which might remind you of some 1980s Bowmores, though without any excess. Phew. Finish: medium length, with no major shifts save for a hint of salt in the aftertaste. Comments: while the magnificent nose is quite classic, the palate is something else entirely, which earns it a few extra points in my book. A perfect old malt for a (sometimes) jaded taster.
SGP:461 - 90 points. |
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