Gone Grant, Bladnoch, Marketing Malt (Whisky Sponge)

Here are some of the latest releases in the Whisky Sponge series. A series that is nearing the end, by the way. If we can believe this piece, the series will stop after 100 releases. That’s only 10 bottlings away.

 

Gone Grant 31 yo 1993 (43,9%, Decadent Drinks 2024, second fill barrel, 230 btl.)

Nose: usually I’m disappointed by 1990s distilation because it only reaches to the ankles of a 1972. This time I’m not. Ripe, jammy fruits, nicely waxy and honeyed, with a hint of apricot, tangerine, sweet pineapple and vanilla. While the 1970s were even more beehive-y, this is more towards tropical fruits I’d say. Subtle spearmint and something slightly leafy. Then also a a chalky touch.

Mouth: still this warming, slightly tropical fruity style. Guava, apricot, yellow plums, tinned pineapple and buttery ginger biscuits. Then it gets a creamy, almost toffeed side but also a mild zesty / grassy edge. Chalky notes, a little hay and very mild oak spice make it increasingly firmer. Subtle hints of milk chocolate as well.

Finish: long, still nicely sweet and fruity with honey and this old-style chalky note.

Granted, it’s not extremely complex, but the beautiful waxy fruitiness makes it a pretty lovely whisky. I could have this any day. Now available from Decadent Drinks or The Whisky Exchange for instance.

 

The next release may sound familiar. There was a Bladnoch 1990 Whisky Sponge last year, but that was only a small part of the cask. The remainder was left to mature with additional head space.

 

Bladnoch 34 yo 1990 (55,1%, Decadent Drinks 2024, refill barrel, 194 btl.)

Nose: quite fatty, on papaya and ripe bananas, along with butter biscuits, even echoes of women’s cream and paraffin. Vanilla cake dough and lemon in the background, as well as chamomile, gorse and slightly yeasty notes. Overall slightly bloated, but after a while a refreshing combo of spearmint and lemon zest appears.

Mouth: stronger than this profile would require. Still sweetness of plums, quince jelly and vanilla cake, balanced with lime and minty notes. Then light herbal and leafy notes, as well as some white pepper and lemon zest. Slightly grassy in the end.

Finish: long, with the grassy / zesty character standing out, including honey and a subtle bitterness.

Obviously similar to the 33 year old Bladnoch 1990 released last year. The cask oxidation may have highlighted the slightly exotic fruitiness, so this deserves an extra point. Available from Decadent Drinks or The Whisky Exchange among others. Score: 90/100

 

The next one is a dark sherry cask from an undisclosed distillery. While the reference to Teletubby land on the label rings a bell, the website also mentions it is a sadly closed distillery. I’m confused. Although this may refer to the old stillhouse of the same (yet to be closed) distillery?

 

‘The Marketing Malt’ 15 yo 2008 (57,1%, Decadent Drinks 2024, sherrywood)

Nose: a lot of dark cherries, prunes, with thick grape juice and date sweetness. However there’s also a herbal vermouth character. Then also walnuts, hints of tomato stems and plenty of caramelized nuts. There’s a musty tobacco note and a light meatiness which makes it a little less vibrant in my opinion.

Mouth: still this rather winey Oloroso style, with dark fruity notes (prunes, raisins) and spice. Walnuts, nougat, hints of mocha and drunken cherry chocolate cake. Vermouth, light roasted hints and drops of coffee. A subtle mustardy sharpness too.

Finish: long, rather oily, with more peppered chocolate character and roasted malt.

Quite good: a dark sherry character with plenty of sweetness backed by herbal / spicy notes. Even though it mocks some of the marketing tactics of this distillery, the bottle is selling fast. Sold out, as far as I can tell. Score: 88/100