Bladnoch 17 Year California Red Wine Cask Finish

This does not immediately present the balance, richness, and complexity that I associate with Bladnoch 15. It exhibits some characteristics found in I.W. Harper 15, Westward, Balcones American Single Malt, and Glenfiddich 14, not all of which are desirable. It possesses a more intense, woodier version of the cardboard taste found in Harper, with diminished vanilla. It carries over the immature malt flavor from Westward, amplified by the dryness and tartness from Balcones. Similarly, the musty malt character of Glenfiddich 14 emerges. During the extended finish, a rather pleasant woody vanilla note appears, not overly strong. Despite the unflattering comparisons, I find this scotch quite enjoyable. It simply doesn't deliver the immediate classic status that the brand and price point might imply upon initial tasting. Some dryness originates from the red wine component. It's fairly rich and fruity with a somewhat viscous texture and sweetness, but it doesn't match the deliciousness or complexity of the Adela or Talia. Nevertheless, it's intriguing and skillfully crafted with a suitable alcohol level and a well-rounded profile. It is certainly richer than Oban Little Bay, although the sweetness of the Little Bay is appealing, and it possesses its own complexities. I would consider this a significant improvement over Oban Little Bay, but not a dramatic one. Notes of aged wood, maltiness, and some fruitiness from the wine, similar to Oban Little Bay, are present on the nose. A subtle hint of spice, cinnamon perhaps, is also detected. It offers a malty flavor mingled with fruity sweetness from the wine. It's rich and flavorful with a swirling malty taste, but it never quite settles on a specific flavor profile. Abundant vanilla emerges within its richness, but there's little to no maritime character or similar notes. A touch of smokiness provides a pleasant counterbalance without being overwhelming. It's more subdued than Westward, seemingly incorporating more elements, whereas Westward appears to have focused on a single flavor profile (albeit immature). This approach seems to have somewhat detracted from what could have been a superb 15-year-old Scotch. It's very good, but I genuinely anticipated better. The fruitiness is a bit pronounced, and the other flavors don't contribute the complexity I desire. I suppose its quality is comparable to Westward. It's overpriced for what it offers, but I'm reminded of the excellence of Bladnoch 15 Adela when I taste this.

Nose - Strong wine influence, almost sweet sherry/port like, subdued vanilla mixed with oaky/tannic red wine, a touch of ginger, citrus zest, grape skins, cherries Taste - Spicy white pepper/ginger spice/heat, drying tannic mouthfeel, cherries, caramel/toffee, surprisingly sweet, oranges, dried dark stone fruits Finish - Diminishing heat, persistent caramel/toffee notes, sweet toasted sugars, dark stone fruity sweetness Score - 81/100 Final Thoughts - If I were unaware this was a red wine finish, I would have assumed it was finished in a moist, sweet sherry cask. I detected the tannins from the red wine but little else. This was unexpectedly sweet and strangely tannic. The flavors were mostly pleasant, but the overall harmony was lacking. I would categorize it more as a dessert dram than an everyday sipper. Would I drink it if offered? - Yes Would I specifically order it? - Perhaps Would I buy a bottle? - No

A welcome change on the nose. The red wine clearly imparts its character to this whisky. It features grapes, raisins, and a pleasant dry fruitiness. White chocolate. Butter. Warm molasses. Bitter orange. Overall, very intense and full. However, it's also quite sharp on the nose right away. The palate initially greets the taste buds with a rather strong dry chili sensation. But after the first sip, it becomes much more approachable. Spices are present, but now they are very flavorful. Ginger, Italian dry herbs, lavender (unusual, but definitely there). A bit of honey and even less vanilla. I'm not entirely sure how much of the red wine you actually perceive on the palate, but combined with the nose, it remains very present and contributes to a nice overall experience. I must admit, while I'm not a huge fan of the base whisky itself, I really enjoyed the cask style, and in my opinion, it significantly enhances the dram experience.

Appearance: Amber color with a +2 rating, medium viscosity. Nose: Walnuts, almonds, licorice, sweet notes (honey, vanilla, toffee), fruity notes (dried fruits, apricots, plums), barley malt, oak. Palate: A slightly hot and spicy initial taste (but pleasant), full, rich, oily. The nuttiness is remarkable (walnuts, almonds, nuts, pistachio), with sweet notes (honey, vanilla, toffee), fruity notes (dried fruits, plums, apricots, baked pears), barley malt, a bit dry, and wet oak. Finish: Medium to long finish, with a nutty-sweet-oaky-dry aftertaste (I love it). Comment: This is a good one, folks. It's impressive how complex it is, especially the nutty aspects. A bit dry, but it's good.

Nose: Zesty red wine, nuts with almonds prominent, malt, caramel, toffee, vanilla and hints of cherry. Palate: Somewhat thick and rich, it is spicy with more red wine, perhaps old vine Zinfandel, nuts, caramel, toffee, vanilla, honey, malt, a little musty, hints of barrel spice and cherries. Finish: Long and a little peppery, with malt, dried red fruits, hints of nuttiness and shortbread. Appears slightly unbalanced with the red wine overshadowing the base, but still quite enjoyable. I would appreciate having a full bottle to explore. Thanks to a friend for the sample!

I like this more than the 15yr Adela. It's less sweet, with ample barrel wood, spice, and port wine fruit character. It bursts from the glass with so much flavor, it's actually overshadowed the spirit. I enjoy smelling this; it has a lot to discover, and the finish lasts forever. I enjoy it, but the port wine notes are dominant.