Bladnoch distillery was founded in 1817, but has a long and potted history of struggling. Australian David Prior bought the liquidated Lowland facility in 2015, installed a raft of new equipment and is now looking to fully reboot production with a first new Bladnoch possibly arriving in 2020.
Bladnoch is back! Australian David Prior (famous for five:am yoghurt fact fans) bought the liquidated Lowland distillery in 2015, installed a raft of new equipment and is now looking to fully reboot production with a first new Bladnoch possibly arriving in 2020. But, whilst we have to wait until then to try the new Bladnoch, we can try some of the old Bladnoch right now.
Finishing our week of distilleries who’s names start with the letter B (did any of you spot that?), we’re down to the Lowlands and Bladnoch. Australian yoghurt magnate (yes really) David Prior bought the distillery in 2015 and renovated the site which had been mothballed since 2009. To celebrate the reopening of the distillery, three new (old?) expressions of Bladnoch were released last year. We’ve already taken a look at the NAS Samsara on The Dramble. Bottle open, it’s now time to investigate the 15 year old Adela.
Bladnoch is a whisky I want to like more than I actually do. Everyone has taste preferences, and whilst I’m usually highly agnostic, I’ve yet to find an official bottling from this Lowland distillery that’s totally floated my boat. Indeed, the current official range from the ‘new’ Bladnoch has actively dissuaded me – it’s a bizarre mix of peculiar cask finishes and over-priced limited editions. Perhaps in a decade when the newly produced spirit from Bladnoch has come of age things will change? But, for the time being at least, the distillery’s output (drawn from older stocks) sadly leaves me rather cold. Thank heavens for independent bottlers.
Down to the Lowlands for a 27 year old Bladnoch that’s been maturing in a refill ex-Bourbon barrel since 1990. One of 94 bottles. Old & Dignified profile.
The second SMWS Bladnoch of this year and another well-aged example. 28 years in a 2nd fill bourbon barrel. Old & dignified profile.