Bladnoch 8 year old - The Galloway Collection

Profile: The Bladnoch 8 year old - The Galloway Collection at a Glance

• Aged for eight years and part of the Galloway Collection
• Double matured in fresh Californian red wine casks
• Naturally bottled at cask strength (46.7% ABV) without chill filtration or added coloring
• The first regular 8-year-old bottling from the new Bladnoch production

Portrait: What makes the Bladnoch 8 year old - The Galloway Collection special

There are whiskies that quietly enter the room, politely sit down at the table, and hope that someone notices them. And then there's the Bladnoch 8 Year Old from the Galloway Collection, which is more like the charming guest who calls out at the door: “Hello everyone, I'm back - and this time I might even stay a little longer!”

After the super strong, but unfortunately even more super limited pre-edition, Bladnoch has now presented a “real” eight-year-old from the new production for the first time. The Queen of the Lowlands has kept her word - and that alone is almost royal magic in our time. Master Blender Dr. Nick Savage (whose name, by the way, already sounds like someone who tames barrel staves with a Bunsen burner) has arranged a cask ballet for this bottling, maturing twice in fresh Californian red wine casks. Double! In the whisky universe, that's roughly equivalent to saying, "One maturation is good, but two are simply better." And then he adds his own drinking strength of 46.7% ABV on top - just so everyone knows he means business.
Nick himself describes his creation as "Samsara on steroids."
This sounds either like a philosophical action film or the result of a late-night inspiration where it suddenly becomes clear: "Yes, that's it!" Since Bladnoch only restarted production in 2017, the 8-year-old casks are still as rare as sunny days in the Scottish spring. Anyone who manages to snag a bottle has every right to be a little proud.
At least more so than you should be when choosing between paprika or natural crisps at the supermarket checkout. Handcrafted with the finest local grains and the pristine water of the River Bladnoch, the whisky remains unchillfiltered and of natural color – because good things don't need to hide.

In short: The Bladnoch 8 year old isn't a whisky that shouts. It winks. And sometimes that's exactly what's more convincing. Cheers!

Tasting Notes: This is how the Bladnoch 8 year old - The Galloway Collection tastes like

• Nose: An initial scent of sweet strawberries and cream rises to the nose, soft and inviting like a summer dessert. This is accompanied by a delicate, slightly cool herbal freshness reminiscent of pine cones, lending the aroma an unexpected, natural depth.
• Palate: On the palate, a distinct note of strawberry jam unfolds, rich and fruit-forward. Beneath this lies an elegant layer of polished oak, reminiscent of well-maintained barrel cellars. Spicy hints of nutmeg provide warm, aromatic impulses and harmoniously round off the overall impression.
• Finish: The finish is long, sweet, and pleasantly warming. The sweetness lingers, while the warmth slowly unfolds, and the finale stretches smoothly into the end.