“The Old Fashioned Way”
Whisky Review # 1086
Country: Scotland 🏴
Region: Lowlands
Brand: Bladnoch
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 14 Years - 2021 Release
Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 46.7%
Maturation: Oloroso Sherry Casks
Chill Filtration: No
Maturation: Oloroso Sherry Casks
Chill Filtration: No
Price Range: US$ 105-120 (March 2026)
Price/Quality Ratio: 😟 A bit expensive in my opinion
Price/Quality Ratio: 😟 A bit expensive in my opinion
Buying Advice: 👍 Especially when you like "Old Style" sherried Whisky
Colour:
Deep Amber with shades of Orange and Brown (Natural Colour)
Nose:
Sweet and Sour with deep Sherry Aromas like Dark (Dried Fruit) and Marzipan. I detect some Sulfur but it doesn't feel out of place here. The Alcohol is there but does not interfere with the Nosing procedures. The Nose is a bit comparable to Cognac. It's a bit Meaty and Earthy as well and I like it.
Deep Amber with shades of Orange and Brown (Natural Colour)
Nose:
Sweet and Sour with deep Sherry Aromas like Dark (Dried Fruit) and Marzipan. I detect some Sulfur but it doesn't feel out of place here. The Alcohol is there but does not interfere with the Nosing procedures. The Nose is a bit comparable to Cognac. It's a bit Meaty and Earthy as well and I like it.
Main Aromas:
Sweet Barley, Caramel, Treacle, Butter Biscuits, Dried Fruit like Sultanas, Raisins, Figs & Plums, Smoked Almonds, Dark Chocolate, Dark Red Fruit like Currants and Berries, Orange Peel, Marzipan, Dusty Charred Oak, Brandy, Grass, Dusty Earth & Fresh and Dry Herbs.
Sweet Barley, Caramel, Treacle, Butter Biscuits, Dried Fruit like Sultanas, Raisins, Figs & Plums, Smoked Almonds, Dark Chocolate, Dark Red Fruit like Currants and Berries, Orange Peel, Marzipan, Dusty Charred Oak, Brandy, Grass, Dusty Earth & Fresh and Dry Herbs.
Supportive Aroma Accents:
Toffee, Vanilla, Dark Honey, Butterscotch, Dairy, Nougat, Leather, Tobacco, Cigar Box, Black Tea, Sour Cherries, Baked Pineapple sprinkled with Cinnamon, Ginger and Mint.
Toffee, Vanilla, Dark Honey, Butterscotch, Dairy, Nougat, Leather, Tobacco, Cigar Box, Black Tea, Sour Cherries, Baked Pineapple sprinkled with Cinnamon, Ginger and Mint.
Palate:
The Palate basically follows the Nose with Sweet, Sour and Salty elements, It is a bit Thinner than I expected. Still not bad at all and reminiscent of a Liquid X-Mas Cake. Some Sulfur again but it's not aggressive. Quite Dry.
Main Flavours:
Sweet Barley, Caramel, Brown Sugar, Treacle, Dark Red Fruit, Dark Honey, Dried Fruit like Sultanas, Raisins, Dates and Figs, Sour Plums, Orange Peel, Dusty Book Shelf, Marzipan, Dark Chocolate, Dusty Earth, Dusty Charred Oak, Pepper, Clove, Nutmeg and Ginger.
The Palate basically follows the Nose with Sweet, Sour and Salty elements, It is a bit Thinner than I expected. Still not bad at all and reminiscent of a Liquid X-Mas Cake. Some Sulfur again but it's not aggressive. Quite Dry.
Main Flavours:
Sweet Barley, Caramel, Brown Sugar, Treacle, Dark Red Fruit, Dark Honey, Dried Fruit like Sultanas, Raisins, Dates and Figs, Sour Plums, Orange Peel, Dusty Book Shelf, Marzipan, Dark Chocolate, Dusty Earth, Dusty Charred Oak, Pepper, Clove, Nutmeg and Ginger.
Supportive Flavour Accents:
Toffee, Vanilla, Grass & Straw, Nougat, Nuts & Nut Shells, Polished Leather, Damp Cellar, Tobacco, Wet Sand, Black Tea or Strong Espresso, Licorice, Indian Spice Mix and Mint. A Hint of Rubber.
Finish:
Middle-Long. A mix of Bitter, Sweet and Sour notes. A pinch of Salt perhaps. It's quite Dry. A bit of Ashes, Sulfur & Metal in the aftertaste. The Alcohol is there but I am comfortable with it. I also find Sweet Toasted Barley, Caramel, Dark Honey, Dried Fruit like Sultanas, Apricots, Dates and Figs, Blackcurrants, Orange Peel, Marzipan, Baked Apple, Polished Leather, Tobacco, Licorice, Dusty Charred Oak, Dark Chocolate, Ash, Nuts & Nut Shells, Dried Herbs, Black Tea, Pepper, Nutmeg, Cinnamon, Cloves and Mint. A hint of Rubber.
Drinking Advice:
Added Water does not improve this Bladnoch. Much better when enjoyed neat.
Drinking Experience Neat:
Added Water does not improve this Bladnoch. Much better when enjoyed neat.
Rating: 7.5 (*******1/2)
Nose: 8 - Taste: 7.5 - Finish: 7
*** Important Note with respect to Rating.
If the Final score is above 8 you can safely buy the whisky in question if and when it fits your Aroma/Flavor profile. If the score is between 6 and 8 you might want to try it out in the form of a sample or if offered at a good price. Anything below 6 should be left alone when you are looking for a nice sipping whisky. You might still like it of course & I realize pricing is an important item for many whisky fans especially when you are used to enjoy whisky in a cocktail or a mixed drink.
Good
Conclusion:
Bladnoch was founded in 1817 by Thomas and John McClelland. Over the years the ownership of the distillery changed many times and on many occasions the distillery was closed temporarily until it was finally liquidated in 2014. David Prior bought it in 2015 and brought life back to Bladnoch. Production restarted in 2017 and amounted to around 1.5 million litres in 2025. A visitor centre was opened in 2019. The core range includes the Vinaya, Samsara, Alinta, Leora and the recent Galloway Collection consisting of the 8, 13, 16 and 19 Years.
Bladnoch is on the way back and I'm glad for it. It's good that there are still a few Lowland distilleries that maintain a certain "old style" profile. This 14 Year old is not perfect as it's a bit too Thin on the Palate. There are also a few Funky notes in the aftertaste that might not be for everyone. But in general I like this Bladnoch as it is interesting, something that can't be said of a lot of modern mainstream Malt. It is a bit expensive and it's not a dram for everyday. But after a nice dinner or on special occasions this Bladnoch is certainly recommendable!
Cheers! 🥃
Jan van den Ende March 5, 2026
