Bladnoch Tasting - September 2008 - 7 PM

[Ganga]

Recommended Whiskies:
Whatever stocks you've got of Bladnoch.

When:
Oh, on or about 7 PM London time. If you're early, great. If you're late, that's great too.

[Ryguy]

Bladnoch, Yipppeee! I'm ready. Contrary to my original plan to dram later this evening, I'll be starting early.

Putting together my lineup of samples now.

[Ras Mazunga]

I'll get my samples ready right away...

Sherrysheep cask 2615 55%, only 1cl, thanks Willie
Bladnoch tiny miniature bottle, nas, ?%
Signatory vintage 1992 15yo casks 731+32 43%
ob 15, ncf 46%, thanks C57

[Ryguy]

Bladnoch 10yo ( 43%, Flaura & Fauna )

Glass: SMWS glass
Nose: Citrus fruits, a bit of spice, some wood.
Palate: Light with malt, butter, some salt.
Finish: Medium to long finish with some spice, and more wood coming through.

A very nice dram indeed! I really like this stuff!!

Many thanks to Nick (C57) for this sample!!

[Ryguy]

Cheers Nick & Ras!!

I tried using a URL like Matt sets up for us in other tastings, so we could use the other format. But when I did it took me to the Mortlach Live Tasting thread. Oh well.

[Ras Mazunga]

The miniature is first, no info on the bottle other than Bladnoch.
Too little to taste, it's only 0.1 cl.
n: remind me of pet food, mixed grains we give to rabbits. Could be interesting but it is too little.
t:a bit like the nose with something extra...
f: ...

[Ryguy]

Bladnoch 15yo ( 46%, Original Bottling )

Glass: SMWS glass
Nose: Dry wine and citrus fruits, and a hint of grass.
Palate: Sweet sugars, more fruits, wood.
Finish: Medium finish, dry with more wood.

This is another very tasty dram. Excellent!

Many thanks to Nick (C57) for this sample!!

[Ryguy]

All this wonderful Bladnoch sure makes me want to kick myself for not jumping in on the cask purchase.

[shoganai]

I really thought I had two Bladnoch samples laying around, but I can only find one. I guess I "sampled" the other one* earlier this year. In any case, I'll be revisiting a 15YO John MacDougall selection. Cask 3512, bottle 145 of 198.



*A nice 16YO Scott's Selection, which appears to be gone.

[mikeymad]

Way too early for me to start, but I will be following along... Keep the notes coming.

Cheers,

[Ryguy]

Bladnoch ( 55%, Original Bottling, Sherry Sheep Cask # 2615 )

Glass: SMWS glass
Nose: The sherry cask makes its presence known on the nose. Some apples, spices, even a bit of toffee.
Palate: Sweet and wonderful! Mix of flowers, some wood and a range of spices
Finish: Oh so nice...very full and long, a bit dry as well. The spices and floral notes from the palate still linger

Excellent cask selection and bottling here!

Thank you Willie for this sample!!

[Ras Mazunga]

I agree Ryan, the Sherrysheep is very nice. Unfortunately I finished the last drop before I could write some notes.

[mikeymad]

I have three wee samples to try today (all from willie)

Bladnoch ( 55%, Original Bottling, Sherry Sheep Cask # 2615 )
Bladnoch 10yo ( 43%, Flaura & Fauna )
Bladnoch New Make (64.5%?)

Once I have some breakfast and wake up some more.....

Cheers,

[Ryguy]

Bladnoch 6yo ( 57.3%, Original Bottling, Bourbon Cask )

Glass: SMWS glass
Nose: Light and fresh. Some floral notes.
Palate: Oooooh, really sweet and tasty! Vanilla cream, also some spices with a hint of oak.
Finish: Very nice, long, and really good. Tons of sweet vanilla lingers.

If this is what you all have to look forward to with your bourbon cask, lookout! Extremely tasty, and much, much better than I ever could have imagined this would be at 6yo.

Many thanks to Jobi for this sample!!

[Ryguy]

I could easily live with a bourbon cask Bladdie all day long!!!!

Kicking myself again for not taking a share in the cask......

[Dram fine idea]

Evening all. I'll be joining shortly. Thanks to C57 for the 15 yo Bladnoch and the Port Ellen, much appreciated.

[Ryguy]

Evening all. I'll be joining shortly. Thanks to C57 for the 15 yo Bladnoch and the Port Ellen, much appreciated.

Looking forward to the notes DFI! I'll be around for a few, but I'll have to step out at some point. Keep it going!

[Ryguy]

Cheers Everyone, have a great evening. Looks like it's time for me to go. I'll be back later to do a re-taste on a couple of these and to read the notes!!

[mikeymad]

good deal Ryguy

thanks for the notes

Cheers,

[Muskrat Portage]

Looks like you guys are well into it. It's just past 1:30 here, I should go and see if the Bladnoch is open... then well, hopefully it's open.

Musky
Yes it's open:
Signatory 8th March 1990
Casks no 1060-1062
Bottle no 520 of 789
12 yo 43% abv

[mikeymad]

Looks like you guys are well into it. It's just past 1:30 here, I should go and see if the Bladnoch is open... then well, hopefully it's open.

Musky

Sound's like a chance to open either way....

Cheers Musky....

[Willie JJ]

Evening folks. I seem to be late as usual, but I'll just get the samples organised and be right with you.

[mikeymad]

Wow it sure seems that Willie is the Bladnoch dealer for the Forum....

And he is not even here to enjoy us enjoying his beverage....

Big thanks to Willie for the samples (for everyone), seems like you made this tasting really happen.

cheers,

PS... oh there he is.....!!! cheers

[Muskrat Portage]

Signatory 8th March 1990
Casks no 1060-1062
Bottle no 520 of 789
12 yo 43% abv
Colour; A very pale golden hue in the bottle even paler in the glass.
Nose: As soon as I opened the bottle the air was redolent with wonderful odours, almost like strawberries. Nosing the glass, there is a fruity note along with a hint of grassyness. A sweetness I liken to almonds and a hint of grain is there.
Palate:Sweetness at the initial taste, then the grassiness comes on board, followed by sherry notes and a warmth and gentle spice notes like a cinnamon heart but much milder.
Finish: Sweetness at the start then near the end a bit of spiciness comes to the fore, causing the centre of the tongue to salivate while the lips tingle from the initial dram.
Comments: Now this is a Lowland that I could fall in love with all over again. Initially purchased in March 1, 2005 for $95.00 at the local LCBO. Should've picked up the second one.
Musky

[mikeymad]

Well I have to be off to the rest of today's wedding celebrations. A night of real beer beckons.

Enjoy the tasting, all. I'll catch up with the notes later.

Cheers C57... enjoy the wedding (and congrats to the couple).

Enjoy your notes as always.

Cheers,

[Willie JJ]

Cheers Nick
Enjoy the wedding, the beer, the dancing, etc.

Sorry I missed you tonight, you've put up some great notes as usual. Oh and thanks for the sample of the 15yo.

Now, where to start ...

[Muskrat Portage]

Enjoy the wedding Nick and raise a dram or two for us while you're at it.

I'll be BBQ'g steaks this evening as you are winding down, A'Bunadh in hand to toast the happy couple with.

Musky

[Willie JJ]

Let's try a wee spot of new make:

Nose: just a wonderful lemony, zesty, experience. Got some mown hay, herbs and maybe some light floral scents.
Palate: Again with the lemon, but also some creaminess alongside the zest. Cant bring myself to water it.
Finish: Stays on the centre of my tongue, but has good length and causes a serious amount of mouth watering. Ends up like boiled fruit sweets.

Yummy.

[mikeymad]

Signatory 8th March 1990
Casks no 1060-1062
Bottle no 520 of 789
12 yo 43% abv

Sounds good Musky... bottled 6 years ago... might be tough for me to find a bottle of that...

Cheers

[Dram fine idea]

Evening All (once again). Have a good night Nick. I'm having internet connection problems but here goes - my notes (unbiased as usual) on the 10 yo F&F

Glencairn glass

Nose Fresh, lemon and lime and salt on my left nostril, the same and a touch of caramel on the right, pleased to meet you my bladnoch!

Taste As for the nose, incredibly fresh and a touch of sweetness/caramel as well, but it walks the line and is never one thing or the other, just both at exactly the same time, just mind bogglingly good!

Finish A continuation of the taste with a touch of dry heat like white pepper which is an unexpected sting in the tail.

Comment Just so juicy and salivating, it really gets the juices going, like the 1993 G&M Scapa I just adore this dram (may as well say what I think!). I bought 3 bottles of this and they are evaporating

[Dram fine idea]

Encouraged by my success in posting the notes on the 10, here I go again ...(by the way I did these on Word while I was cussing at the internet connection in case you think I'm speed dramming)

Bladnoch 15yo NCF 46%
Glencairn glass

Nose Fresh, bubblegum, nail polish/paint, touch of sweetness on the top notes. Enticing.

Taste Sweet, apples, cinnamon, lemon and lime, and later on a brief hint of banana, juicy, lively, slightly hotter than the 10yo F&F

Finish Bubblegum, white pepper, apples, short to medium

Comment A lovely dram, thanks very much C57, seems to come from refill bourbon casks which enable the flavours to let rip on the tastebuds. I have had no problem having another dram of this to confirm just how good it is!

[Willie JJ]

Now the 15yo NCF OB at 46% from C57:

Nose: the citrus is still there, but this time it has some pears to keep it company. There a malty note too, a little like Horlicks. Slight trace of yeast.
Palate: This dram just does what Bladnoch is best at: coating the tongue with a slightly effervescent lemon juice. Its not very complex this one, but it is delicious.
Finish: the malt comes through on the finish, but its not strong and its not competing with the fizzing fruit which creates wonderful sensations in the mouth.

Also, yummy.

Many thanks Nick for this one.

[Dram fine idea]

Interesting notes on the 15 yo, Willie, we both like it and find different qualities in it. I'll try it again with your comments in mind.

Bladnoch 23yo Rare Malts 1977 53.6% Bottle No 1166

Nose Banana, also mango, pineapple, touch of syrup, very exotic and entirely unlike the 10 & the 15. I could nose this forever (what a surprise)

Taste Starts off closed, then give it a few seconds and ... mango, pineapple, banana, salt. Like the 26yo Duncan Taylor Dallas Dhu this is special, and one I simply must chew for a long time (another surprise)

Finish Smooth, gentle, short to medium, banana, mango etc

Comment This rewrites the book on Bladnoch for me. Quite a shock. Absolutely fantastic. Amazing depth. Total luxury. Exotic. Mouthfilling. I bought a 25ml measure of this for £7.90 at the Grill pub in Aberdeen this afternoon and it is worth every penny (possibly many times over). Yum yum.

[Willie JJ]

Ok, now, in reverse order to DFI, I'll have the 10yo F&F:

Nose: this leans ever so slightly more towards orangeyness than the previous drams. The lemon is still lurking though. A hint of Chardonnay; suggests some sherry casks in the mix here, but the influence is light. A little buttery too.
Palate: Less spicy zing on this than there is on the 15yo, at least initially. Again, oranges alongside a nice juicy maltiness. Sipping this malt gets you chewing.
Finish: Here comes the lemon. the wood spice dries the tongue and leaves a lingering calm.

In some ways this dram is great: I love the way the barley comes through on the palate, but at the end it just lacks the energy of the 15yo. The strength might have something to do with that, but I think it doesn't explain it all.

[Dram fine idea]

Willie, I've retried the 15 yo and I see what you mean about the malty flavour and its real presence in the finish.