Bladnoch whisky feature
Philip Day looks at four of the best Bladnoch whiskies in readiness for Father’s Day. Often referred to as the ‘Queen of the Lowlands’, this Scottish whisky makes a wonderful present.
Galloway spirits
It’s June, that time of the year when many of the Scottish distilleries offer suggestions to allow us to show appreciation for our whisky-loving dad, grandad, stepdad, or father figure, by treating them to a truly remarkable high-quality dram of whisky this Father’s Day.
Bladnoch, Scotland’s southernmost distillery, recommends its Vinaya and Samsara Lowland single malt Scotch whiskies from its core range, as well as its 14-year-old and its oldest limited-edition release, a 30-year-old single malt, as fitting expressions to gift on Sunday 16th June.
Each whisky has been expertly handcrafted through intricate cask selection by Bladnoch’s Master Distiller, Dr Nick Savage.
All four whiskies are bold Galloway spirits, all natural in colour and non-chill filtered, ready to be appreciated just the way they are.
Let’s take a look at each of these expressions.
Bladnoch Vinaya
Vinaya, a Sanskrit word meaning respect and gratitude, pays homage to Bladnoch Distillery’s original founders who paved the way for the brand’s exciting new era of innovation and production.
Non-chill filtered and natural in colour, Bladnoch Vinaya is matured in a unique combination of first-fill bourbon and sherry casks, a process which creates notes of fresh apple, sweet floral grass and hints of chocolate.
Tasting Notes:
Colour: Summer barley field.
Nose: Sweet floral grass with boiled sweets.
Palate: Fresh green apples and chocolate with a hint of pepper.
Finish: Light and refreshing.
Bladnoch Vinaya: 70cl, 46.7% ABV, priced at £50 / USD $69
Bladnoch Samsara
Bladnoch Samsara, meaning ‘rebirth’, is a full-bodied and fragrant blend of malts matured in Californian red wine and ex-bourbon casks.
Rich and sweet with notes of vanilla, fudge and citrus, this unique non-age-statement malt whisky is the perfect dram to gift this Father’s Day.
Tasting Notes:
Colour: Copper gold.
Nose: Vanilla cream, floral with fresh cut apples.
Palate: Thick vanilla fudge, sweet floral grass.
Finish: Rich, mouth coating, leading to refreshing citrus.
Bladnoch Samsara: 70cl, 46.7% ABV, priced at £80/USD $74.99
Bladnoch 14 Year Old
Released in 2023, exclusively aged in Oloroso sherry casks, Bladnoch 14 Year Old makes a sumptuous gift for dad this Father’s Day. Master Distiller, Dr Nick Savage, carefully curated this rich flavour profile which imparts notes of fruit cake, dark chocolate and subtle sweet cinnamon. Non-chill filtered and natural in colour.
Tasting Notes:
Colour: Bronze sunset.
Nose: Wood spices, rich raisins and sultanas with a hint of orange peel and chocolate.
Palate: Raisins, dried fruits, rich fruit cake with sweet cinnamon and chocolate.
Finish: Rich and long with slight dryness.
Bladnoch 14 Year Old: 70cl, ABV 46.7%, priced at £110/ $139
Bladnoch 30 Year Old
Matured in two exceptional and rare cask types: Oloroso Sherry and Moscatel, Bladnoch 30 Year Old, is the oldest release from Bladnoch to date.
This single malt carries aromas of dried fruits, warm nutmeg and light floral notes. On the palate you can expect a rich almond, marzipan like flavour paired with Seville oranges. The finish will surprise you with a light and fruity end, with a hint of cracked black pepper.
Limited to just 950 bottles worldwide and one bottle purchase per person.
Tasting Notes:
Colour: Copper.
Nose: Dried apricots, floral, nutmeg and Seville oranges.
Palate: Almonds and marzipan with Seville oranges.
Finish: Light, floral and fruity with a crack of black pepper.
Bladnoch 30 Year Old: 70cl, ABV 45.5%, priced at £1200/ USD $1525
Bladnoch whisky – availability
All the above Bladnoch expressions are available at www.bladnoch.com and specialist whisky retailers.
Bladnoch Vinaya, Bladnoch Samsara and Bladnoch 14 Year Old are also available through Amazon
For further information on Bladnoch expressions, please see: www.bladnoch.com
About Bladnoch Distillery
Bladnoch Distillery was established in 1817, making it the oldest privately owned Scotch whisky distillery in the world. As the southernmost distillery in Scotland, Bladnoch is known for its bold Galloway spirit and is commonly referred to as the ‘Queen of the Lowlands.’
Hand-crafted using malt from British growers and the pristine water from the River Bladnoch which flows alongside the distillery, Bladnoch single malts are non-chill filtered to ensure the truest flavours shine through.
This legacy brand has been revived in recent years by Master Distiller, Dr Nick Savage, formerly of The Macallan, and owner David Prior, who purchased Bladnoch Distillery in 2015 and is the first Australian businessman to own a Scotch whisky distillery.
Image – Dr Nick Savage
The team at Bladnoch is truly passionate about the preservation of the environment and the local community’s generational involvement in this iconic distillery.
Bladnoch – references
Press release and images provided by BIG Partnership on behalf of Bladnoch