Review: The Peat Inn Bladnoch 10 year old

2014 is relentlessly racing by without question, leaving little time for reflection in its wake. One of the biggest misses this year for me personally has been the lack of a trip down to Wigtownshire to visit Bladnoch. I love the place; whether its the atmosphere or whisky, it represents a unique distillery experience.

As we wait patiently on the sidelines we should take heart that Bladnoch isn't gone for ever. Yes, I'm sure the Scotch Malt Whisky Society listed a Bladnoch release as being from a 'closed distillery' recently, which seems a little premature and jumping the gun. Bladnoch isn't gone for good, no, rather its preparing for a new phase. By all accounts it should re-emerge with new owners shortly. Whether this is for the better or worse, only time will tell. For now we have to sit and wait, enjoying the remnants of Bladnoch whisky that still remain in existence.

One of the best places to eat in Fife is the Peat Inn, I thoroughly recommend it, especially the great value lunch. A friendly team run the place and ensure guests remain happy. A decent whisky list is on offer although serving this in a tumbler seems an oversight for whisky enthusiasts; all this focus on wine in fine establishments when a dram should receive the same care and attention.

My latest visit and overnight stay at the Peat Inn provided an opportunity to purchase the 10 year old Bladnoch they labelled for the establishment. I'm not setting my expectations high for anything spectacular here being a 3rd party white labelling affair; rather just a solid example of a missed distillery. As always lets start with the details:

Distillery: Bladnoch
Distilled: your guess is as good as mine
Age: 10 years old
Strength: 40% ABV
Cost: £8 for a 5cl miniature or £45 for a 70cl bottle

Colour: almond

Nose: a little vanilla and lemongrass. Oh yes, we're in lowland country now with this delicate offering. Biscuits namely Rich Tea are dominant alongside buttered sweetcorn of all things. Not a hugely detailed or rich example of Bladnoch, instead a solid offering.

Taste: more biscuit arrival and vanilla notes. More of the oak coming through with young apples and white pepper being the lasting finish.

A pleasant enough trip down memory lane. For those visiting the Peat Inn and new to a dram and Scotland this is a good starting point for their whisky journey. It did put a smile of my face, reminiscing about some trips to Wigtown however I'm glad I didn't purchase a full-sized bottle, as I know what Bladnoch is truly capable of such as this excellent sherry release.