Bladnoch 14 Year Old sits somewhere in the middle of the range from this distillery. Above three NAS expressions we find a younger 11 Years from bourbon casks and an older 19 Years matured in Pedro Ximénez. The 14 Years ages exclusively in Oloroso sherry seasoned casks, hand-selected by Bladnoch‘s master blender Dr Nick Savage.
We try the latest 2022 edition, which has just arrived in (certain) stores.
Bladnoch 14 yo (46,7%, OB 2022)
Nose: a really nice sherry profile. First we find classic raisins, dried pear and milk chocolate. What I like mostly is the slightly sour fruitiness of juicy plum compote and red berries. Hints of floral honey, cinnamon and faint herbal notes. Whiffs of new leather too. Bright and attractive, even though it becomes flatter over time.
Mouth: slightly more oak-forward now, showing some (European oak?) spices (ginger and black pepper) with a faint hint of oak char. Then sweeter flavours appear, like toffee, raisins and caramelized walnuts. Also dark cherries and some espresso. Dark chocolate completes this whisky.
Finish: slightly more oak-forward now, showing some (European oak?) spices (ginger and black pepper)
In short, a nice whisky that exceeds the expectations for a modern sherry influenced dram. It shows a bright fruitiness with oak spice and the scent of an actual sherry bodega. I find the price a little heavy but it’s certainly the nicest Bladnoch I’ve had in a long time. I’ve only seen the 2022 edition at The Whisky Exchange and Master of Malt so far, but other retailers still offer the previous years.