Bladnoch Samsara – NAS though min 8yo with older, rarer whiskies
Lowland
70cl / 46.6%
£67
Distillery
Source – River Bladnoch (adjacient)
The most southerly distillery in all of Scotland.
2 x wash stills and 2 x spirit stills
Capacity per year 1,500,000 Litres
1817 - 203 yo – one of the oldest in Scotland but a series of closures over that period. After many changes of owners eventually bought by Arthur Bell’s & Sons for their blends.
At one point in 1993 there was talk of the distillery being converted into holiday homes and that the distillery become a heritage centre, but small-scale production started up again in 1997. It produced for several years and stopped production in 2009 – everyone thought that was the end of the line for this, the most lowly of the lowland distilleries.
2015 – bought by Australian entrepreneur David Prior. The distillery underwent an extensive refurbishment for 2 years and resumed production in 2017 to celebrate its 200 year anniversary.
In the new era - acquiring old stock in order to release new whiskies – a sure-fire way of getting the brand out there in advance of the new spirit being mature, and recuperating some money in the meantime. Three new expressions – Bladnoch Samsara (NAS), Adela (15yo) and Talia (25yo)
Whisky
Samsara, meaning ‘rebirth’ to celebrate reopening of distillery, is a full-bodied and fragrant blend of malts matured in ex Bourbon and ex Californian red wine casks.
The no age statement full-bodied whisky is said to be made up of whiskies that are a minimum of 8 years as well as older, rarer whiskies. First fill Californian red wine and bourbon casks have been used for maturation.
Non-chill filtered and naturally coloured.
COLOUR - Copper gold
NOSE - Vanilla cream, floral with fresh cut apples
PALATE - Thick vanilla fudge, sweet floral grass
FINISH - Rich, mouth coating, leading to refreshing citrus