Review by: Raygun
Antique Lions of Spirits was a new bottler to me. They haven’t bottled much, but a partnering of people involved in Silver Seal, Sansibar, and Lions Whisky certainly gets my attention. Bladnoch I’ve barely tried either; this will be my second reviewed. Bladnoch has had a troubled history, going through several closures and mostly recently reopening in 2017. This was produced in an earlier area when it was owned by United Distillers/Diageo. Reviewed from a sample. Rested about 15 minutes.
Distillery: Bladnoch
Bottler: Antique Lions of Spirits
Region/style: Lowlands single malt Scotch
ABV: 49.4%. Cask strength.
Age: 27 years old. Distilled in 1990 and bottled in 2017.
Cask type: Bourbon cask, 276 bottles
Color: 1.3 russet. Natural color and non-chill-filtered.
Nose: Very citrusy, oaky, and somewhat waxy. Unmistakably old. Bladnoch can be yogurty, but I’m not getting that here. Pear, grapefruit, lemon, and woodshop.
Palate: Some herbal character I didn’t pick up from the nose. Grassy, a little minty. Quite a bit of citrus and oak, like the nose. Mostly grapefruit. A little cream now. Something a little bitter. Maybe a touch too much oak.
Finish: Very drying and oaky. Moderate citrus and pear with crème fraiche. Some of the herbal notes of the palate, and again slightly bitter. I wonder if it’s first fill.
Conclusion: This is one case where I think it could have benefitted from being bottled a few years earlier. I’m not sure if it was a first-fill cask (likely a hogshead) or not, but it tastes overoaked to me. I would have liked a little more freshness and fruit flavors. The age definitely comes through. Just wanted the oak dialed back a little.
Score: 84
Scoring Legend:
- 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky. (Convalmore 36)
- 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category. (Bruichladdich Black Art 4.1)
- 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram. (Ledaig 13 Amontillado)
- 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff. (Tomatin 18)
- 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting. (Glen Scotia 15)
- 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better. (Aultmore 12)
- 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink. (Glenmorangie 10)
- 50-59: Save it for mixing. (Old Pulteney 12)
- 0-49: Blech. (Muirhead’s Silver Seal 16)
