Bladnoch Adela 15 Year

What vibrancy and depth! Notes of Martinelli's and apricot are found with almonds and a hint of coconut. There are some spices present, and the flavor is full and delightful. This drinks like a high-end Scotch, possessing a lovely harmony of tastes and a couple of potent bursts of excellent flavor. While it might not be flawless, it's difficult to imagine something more successful. This stands to Macallan 15 as Macallan 15 stands to Green Spot. It's an astonishing masterpiece from an unexpected origin. It's less assertive than Macallan 15 but is more harmonious and rich. The flavors unfold during the sip, enhancing the complexity. It's enjoyable like Glenfarclas 25 but less dry. The spices add interest and lean slightly toward ginger, yet it's not as dry as Glenfarclas 25. There's a generous amount of baking spices and the wood is noticeable, making it seem and appear at least 5 years older than its actual age, perhaps even 10 years older. It's truly a remarkable find. It's exceptionally good. It carries an aroma reminiscent of Scotch with a touch of sweet red fruit and some pleasant almond, bordering on marzipan. The nose also presents some rich truffle. There's a slight initial harshness on the palate, but it quickly gives way to intricate flavors. Some mineral elements that can sometimes evoke unpleasant bread are present, but not in a negative way. It's a bit rougher than anticipated, but the complexity is evident and it's quite well-balanced. There are notes of cherry and almond that are very pleasing. There's a good equilibrium here with a lot happening. Spice emerges prominently with some roughness. There are also some smoky, coastal notes, and the barrel significantly contributes to the underlying character. Almond integrates nicely, lending richness to the flavor. The sherry background is also quite enjoyable, though I would prefer it a bit deeper. Leather is present but far from overpowering. The aroma reminds me of Westward and Bladnoch 17. It has some smoke and overly ripe fruit along with malt and sweet caramel, with a slight wood influence. The palate is pleasantly woody with fruity sweetness and malty richness. Hints of milk chocolate appear, and there's a good balance of spiciness, making it taste full and rich. There's an abundance of flavor and complexity here. At times, it doesn't quite harmonize perfectly, but it blends in a rich and intriguing manner. I would be pleased to sip this. There's a touch of butterscotch to the caramel, but I wished for more. Some pleasant mild leather blends smoothly with the smoke and tannins. Raisins, dried figs, and dates all emerge. I would have preferred a slightly different flavor profile, but it's complex and interesting with solid richness (especially considering its age). The fruitiness combined with the richness, sweetness, and balanced spice is truly wonderful. This is a genuinely enjoyable Scotch to consume.

Review #014 Type: single malt scotch Proof: 46.7% Details: aged 15 years, matured in an ex-oloroso butt Tasted after: Bladnoch Vinaya Appearance (no score): Auburn hue. Swirling shows a thin film clinging to the glass, which beads up rapidly, but the legs are slow to develop. Nose: 17/20 Dominant aromas of raisins, almonds, and honey. A brief, faint scent of rich earth lingers in the nostrils after setting the glass down. Palate: 36/40 Remarkably smooth on the palate with abundant red fruit flavors. Primarily cherries and red currants, with accompanying notes of raisins, dark chocolate, and baking spices. It possesses a pleasant sweetness without being excessive, and is well-balanced. Finish: 33/40 Medium-long finish featuring a gentle ethanol warmth alongside candied ginger and black pepper, concluding with a subtle salty taste. With Water: Adding a drop of water enhances the palate, making it brighter, crisper, smoother, and slightly sweeter. The ethanol burn on the finish is also slightly reduced. Total: 86/100 Final thoughts: An extremely satisfying sherry-forward whisky. Acquiring this bottle brings considerable pleasure, especially considering my own cask of Bladnoch maturing in an ex-olorosso hogshead. Price: $135 Would recommend: yes Would buy: yes Scoring Legend: 96-100: Exceptional, divine, a treasured bottle to be savored, 5 stars. 90-95: Nearly perfect, truly special, 4.75 stars. 85-89: Very good to outstanding, nearly flawless, 4.5 stars. 80-84: Quite good, enjoyable but not remarkable, 4.25 stars. 75-79: Good, enjoyable but flawed, unlikely to repurchase, 4 stars. 70-74: Solid, pleasant but not a priority, 3.75 stars. 55-69: Drinkable, 3.5-2.75 stars. Below 55: Unsuitable for drinking, best for cooking or disposal, 2.5 stars or less.

Nose: a sherry explosion with raisins, prunes, but also honey, praline nuts, and caramel. Palate: consistently sherry-forward, with caramelized sugar, milk chocolate, honey, and a light wood flavor deeply infused (always) with sherry: distinctive but not unpleasant. I also detect a very pleasing rum characteristic, as if some of the barrels used had previously held rum. It is very sweet and delicate, warm and comforting, with no misplaced notes except for a slight excess of caramel. It benefits from a little time to breathe before optimal appreciation. Finish: medium-long with sherry, very fine milk chocolate, and raisins. A very good and high-quality product; the care in its preparation and maturation is evident. Rating: 4.50 ___________________________________________________________________ Italian version: Naso: bomba di sherry, uvetta, prugne secche, ma anche miele, noci pralinate e caramello. Palato: sempre molto sherry, con zucchero caramellato, cioccolato al latte, miele, leggero sapore di legno impregnato (sempre) di sherry: particolare ma non spiacevole. Avverto anche un piacevolissimo sapore di rum, quasi che parte delle botti usate siano state in passato usate per questo. È molto dolce e delicato, caldo e avvolgente, non una nota fuori posto se non un leggero eccesso di caramello. Va fatto respirare un po’ prima di essere apprezzato al meglio. Finale: medio lungo allo sherry, cioccolato finissimo al latte e uvetta. Un prodotto molto valido e di alta qualità, si percepisce l’attenzione posta nella preparazione e maturazione. Voto 4,50

My initial experience with Bladnoch was with the 15yo Adela, an intriguing dram. It's quite good for a lowland whisky and complex enough to earn a high rating. The bottle is beautiful, and it promised flavors and aromas from oloroso sherry casks. Bottled at 46.7% ABV, it has a tawny color. The nose is very inviting, with notes of chocolate milk powder, amaretto, nuts, Hanuta, coconut, licorice, caramelized apple, and cherries. After the first taste, it becomes much more floral and earthy, with a scent reminiscent of plowed fields or a floral meadow. The palate surpasses the nose, which is unusual. It features cherries, a pleasant fruity spiciness, and an astringent quality. Red fruits and a strong chili spice are present, along with old winey raisins. A second taste reveals more vanilla and chocolate. The aftertaste mirrors the palate, with chocolate, red fruits, and chili notes. Hints of bitter tobacco and earthy peat are present, leading to a long, salty finish. Overall, this is a solid dram. I was unsure of what to anticipate, but the complexity of the flavors and the various layers make it an interesting spirit. I would only have one or two drinks, as it's not quite my preferred style; the chili note is a bit too dominant (though not unpleasant), and finishing the entire bottle would likely take years. An 89 out of 100 seems like a fair score.

Aroma - Cherry & strawberry medicinal drops, canned cranberry sauce, dark honey, dark toffee Taste - Sweet cherry/strawberry/fresh dark stone fruits, hint of dark chocolate, dark toffee, light candied ginger spice, slight bitterness of stone fruit pits on the finish Finish - Long-lasting dark stone fruit sweetness, faint bitterness lingers, light white pepper tingle, cocoa nib bitterness Score - 84/100 Final Thoughts - The aroma on this suggests a dessert drink. I suspect this would be an ideal match for a dark chocolate cake or anything with a berry compote to complement the subtle bitterness this drink possesses. The aroma is great but could potentially be too sweet for some. It begins wonderfully on the palate but shifts to a light metallic bitterness that I sometimes notice with certain oloroso-finished Scotches. Would I drink it if offered? - Yes Would I specifically order it? - Perhaps, with dessert Would I buy a bottle? - Likely not another

The end of a demanding workday. My head was already throbbing from prolonged screen time. I knew it wasn't the wisest choice, but I poured a measure of Glendronach 12 to help me relax. The moment I inhaled it, the sweetness sent a sharp pain through my eye. I'm not speculating about medical issues; I'm simply stating that the overly sweet liquid exacerbated my headache. I desired something dark and smooth, like Quincy Jones, something with a higher proof, definitely not sweet. I needed something peppery and savory, with an oily texture and nutty undertones. I knew precisely what my head required, and it was this. Coarse ground peppercorns on the nose, a full mouthfeel, and an alcohol punch that is surprisingly mellow and balanced. The finish was lengthy and soothing. It provided everything I needed to prepare myself to listen to my wife's complaints about the children with a placid smile and to handle those little rascals with indulgence and gentleness.