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Bladnoch series celebrates ‘most avid’ admirers
Lowland distillery Bladnoch has introduced a new whisky series celebrating those who have a ‘deep affinity with the brand’.
Titled Loch Maberry: Stories of Bladnoch, whiskies in the series are chosen by the brand’s fans, with Chapter 1 selected by Mr Willie Arnold, a man who the distillery describes as a ‘lifelong admirer of Bladnoch, whose passion and enthusiasm exemplifies the dedication of the distillery’s highly skilled team’.
Arnold owned a home in Garlieston, close to Bladnoch’s distillery in Wigtown in Dumfries and Galloway. A regular visitor and great admirer of the distillery, Arnold became closely associated with the brand and was invited by Nick Savage, master distiller at Bladnoch, to choose a cask for bottling.
Having tasted a variety of samples, Arnold settled on Cask 89 – which was distilled in 2008 and matured in a first-fill Californian red wine hogshead.
Of his bottling, Arnold said: “It is an honour to be the story of Chapter 1. Spending time with Dr Nick Savage, the master distiller, and learning about the process of cask selection was remarkable. His focus is on taste first, and I admire that.
“The sweet and warming flavours of the whisky we chose tell the story of my Bladnoch journey, and how welcome I have always felt at the distillery. Its richness reflects how my Bladnoch experiences have enhanced my life.”
Bottled 56.7% ABV, the whisky has notes of blackcurrant jam, ginger, and herbs – plus a ‘sweet and sticky, calm warming caramel’ finish.
It retails for £150 (US$191) from Bladnoch’s website and is presented in a box with letters from Arnold and Savage, describing their collaboration experience.
“Helping Mr Arnold to explore our casks and find the right one to capture his Bladnoch adventure was incredibly rewarding and an experience I will never forget,” added Savage.
“As we blind-tasted and compared samples, it was a joy to see whisky making through his eyes and interpret what Bladnoch means to him. I look forward to selecting our next supporter for Chapter 2 of this unique series.”
The selection process for Chapter 2 of the series has already begun, and people who wish to be considered can visit the distillery’s website for details.
Last year, Bladnoch – which is the oldest privately owned working distiller in the Scottish Lowlands – released a range of rare peated whiskies, which Savage selected from Bladnoch’s 2009 maturing stocks.