A small trio of Bladnoch


March 20, 2025

A small trio of Bladnoch

Bladnoch was part of our quartet of Lowlanders twenty years ago or more, back when there was still plenty of Rosebank around. So, Glenkinchie, Auchentoshan, Rosebank, and then Bladnoch, which had started operating intermittently I think—whereas Rosebank had ceased production. And from time to time, a little drop of St Magdalene for good measure. Since then, new distilleries have appeared in the Lowlands…

Blackcurrant and cassis jelly (Tesco)

Bladnoch ‘Dragon Series I - The Field’ (46.7%, OB, Rare Release, Refill Bourbon, 2,000 bottles, +/-2024)

One might often think that modern whisky is an industrial product, made in facilities run by two or three people and some quasi-quantum computers. But then you read this on Bladnoch’s website and feel reassured: ‘The Dragon Series showcases the scale of variability encountered throughout the process, which is seemingly chaotic and unpredictable.’ That’s exactly what we love, is it not? Colour: pale white wine. Nose: apple cake and lemon cake, neither quite baked enough, which really brings out the cereal and yeasty notes we always enjoy. A few spring flowers and very gentle touches of honey. Feels rather close to those Bladnochs from the 1990s, really. Mouth: indeed, very typical, somewhere between Fanta and 7Up, fresh lemon juice, then fresh barley and orange juice. Nothing chaotic here, I find this very much ‘Bladnoch au naturel.’ Finish: medium length, still on barley and citrus, with a finale of green apple and a faint touch of coffee. Comments: I find this very pretty and refreshing, and it’s a great thing that two or three distilleries—perhaps even fewer—continue to preserve this delightfully simple and cheerful style.
SGP:641 - 85 points.

Bladnoch 15 yo 2007/2022 ‘Vibrant Stills’ (56.6%, OB, first fill Californian red wine cask, cask #705, 250 bottles)

It’s not entirely clear why something meant to celebrate the distillery’s ‘vibrant stills’ would then be poured into an American wine cask. But let’s not forget that some of our Scottish friends have significantly improved their use of red wine casks over the past 25 years. That said, the Bladnoch 17 yo ‘Californian Red Wine Finish’ was rather difficult for me a few years ago. Colour: deep gold. Nose: nothing to do with that one, this is lovely, even if rather deviant, with an astonishing amount of strawberry and morello cherry jams. The good news is that notes of mendiants and clafoutis soon come to the rescue, along with blood oranges—though thankfully without any sangria vibes. With water: blackcurrant in all its forms, cream, syrup, fresh fruit, even buds. A little bay leaf and some old tools in the background. Mouth (neat): now this is strange, like blackcurrant Jell-O made with alcohol instead of water. Behind that, green pepper and, again, Fanta. With water: not much change, though pepper and capsicum get louder. Finish: rather long, more on damsons and blackberries. The malt begins to express itself a little more in the background. Comments: a thousand times better than that old 17-year-old, though still a bit deviant for me. Or perhaps a touch ‘whisky arrangé.’
SGP:741 - 83 points.

Bladnoch 19 yo ‘2023 Release’ (46.7%, OB, PX sherry butts)

This appears to be full-term maturation in Pedro casks rather than just a finishing. Colour: rich gold. Nose: careful, this is a beautiful nose, not dominated by dried raisins, even though there are quite a few. Lovely little earthy and nutty notes, liquorice wood, pipe tobacco, fir honey… All very classic, but above all, very well balanced—sweet without being sluggish. Superb, with gorgeous walnut cake notes emerging later, topped with a gewurz marc glaze. Yes, that’s a thing! Mouth: a cask that makes its mark, but in a lovely way, very cocoa-driven, with another avalanche of nuts, then leather and tobacco. I insist, this is not one of those ‘ultra-sweet’ PX casks drifting towards moscatel. You know what I mean. Finish: rather long, once again on blood orange, with some bitter orange as well. Nuts and a faint hint of glue in the aftertaste. Comments: I find this excellent. Not really a surprise… but then again, maybe a little.
SGP:561 - 88 points.

Check the index of all Bladnoch we've tasted so far