Bladnoch, 16 Year Old
Bladnoch is one of Scotland's best-known Lowland distilleries, but as it's located in one of Scotland's least-appreciated regions, it still flies under the radar. It has a distillery character typical of the region: light and floral. That character goes up against first-fill Oloroso sherry casks, giving this the full sherry-bomb status. Bottled at 46/7% ABV and non-chill filtered, this is an elegant dram that kicks it with the big names.
Nose
Raisins, dried figs, prunes, cinnamon, vanilla
Palate
Dark chocolate, walnut, dried fruit
Finish
Oak spice, dried fruit, nuts
Deep, dark, and inky in appearance, this whisky shows the full effect of 16 years spent exclusively in oloroso sherry casks, while retaining excellent clarity and plenty of grip in the glass. The nose is unapologetically rich, packed with dried fruit and spice: plump raisins, dried figs, preserved prunes, cinnamon sticks, and star anise, all wrapped in a soft vanilla sponge note. With time, an unexpected flourish of dried orange dipped in dark chocolate emerges. The palate is less weighty than first expected, though texture builds steadily as spice gathers momentum. Raisins lead the fruit profile, joined by dark chocolate and the drying character of Brazil nut and walnut. The finish is medium-long, warm with lingering spice, while dried fruit and nuttiness gently round out the mid palate.
Style
Details
Bladnoch, 16 Year Old
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