Bladnoch 1990 ED Review

"Expensive Apples and Pears”

Country: Scotland 

Region: Lowlands

Brand: Bladnoch 1990 (Edition Spirits - The First Editions)

Type: Single Malt Whisky

Age:  21 Years

ABV: 58,3 %

Colour: Pale Gold/Straw

Nose: I would have expected a more powerful Aroma after 21 years in the cask. But the Nose of this Bladnoch is quite subdued and it needs lots of time in the glass before opening up a little. When it does you get quite some Vanilla as well
as Grass, Straw, Malt, Orchard Fruit, Perfumed Soap, Lemon, Orange, Unripe Peach, Buttered Toast, Oak, Dried Herbs, Bourbon and a light hint of Perspiring Feet. All in all a bit disappointing for a 21 Year Old Single Malt.

Palate: The Alcohol is quite present. The Palate more or less follows the Nose with Apples, Pears, Vanilla, Malt, Sugared Lemon Peel, Orange, Hay and Oak. It's quite Spicy as well with Pepper and Cardamom.

Finish: Not overly Long with Pear, Apple, Lemon, Orange, Pepper, Cardamom, Oak and Menthol.

With some added Water you get more Citrus on the Nose and on the Palate. But the Finish practically disappears. You can experiment with a few drops but be careful not to drown the Malt.

Rating: 83.5

Nose: 21.5 - Taste: 20.5 - Finish: 20.5 - Overall: 21

General Remarks: This Bladnoch was distilled in 1990 and bottled at Cask Strength in 2011. It matured in Ex-Bourbon Cask # ES 005/01. This expression is part of The First Edition Series. It's not coloured artificially nor Chill-Filtered. It costs around 105 US Dollars but the availability is limited. 

Edition Spirits is an Independent bottler founded in 2010 by Andrew and Scott Laing. Nowadays it's part of Hunter Laing.

The Bladnoch Distillery is located in Bladnoch, Wigtown and was founded in 1817 by Thomas and John McClelland. It changed hands various times before being mothballed by United Distillers in 1993. A year later it was bought by Raymond Armstrong but unfortunately the distillery went into administration in 2014 and is currently for sale.

Drinking Experience Neat: Good

Conclusion: This is my first Bladnoch and I can't say I'm very excited about it. It's not bad but it's a rather simple Single Malt and I would not give it 21 Years when tasted blind. The Orchard Fruit is quite Fresh given its age and the Wood does not dominate the overall Aroma and Flavour Profile. But besides the Fruit there's not too much to discover. A bit of Grass and Hay, Citrus and Spices. And that's about it. Too little for a Single Malt that would cost you more than a 100 US Dollars! 

Jan van den Ende                                                                      April 8, 2015