Bladnoch

Bladnoch Distillery

  • Founded: 1817
  • Status: Operational
  • Region: Lowland, Scotland – Bladnoch, Wigtown, Wigtownshire DG8 9AB +44(0)1988 402605
  • Online: https://bladnoch.com/
bladnoch-samsara-whisky

History The distillery was founded by John and Thomas McClelland in 1817 and during the period 1823 – 1826 produced an average of 33,000 L per annum, by 1827 this had risen to 45,000 L. By 1845 twenty workers, exclusive of tradesmen, were employed in converting 16,000 bushels of barley per annum into spirit. In 1878 the distillery was enlarged and modernised, presumably to cope with rising production. By 1887 the site occupied 2 acres with a further 50 acres being farmed by the proprietor, who was the son and nephew of the founders; the output had risen considerably to 230,000 L per annum. During the 1890s “misfortunes” which are not specified struck the distilling industry; these could have been the reduction nationwide in the production of barley, a possible rise in excise duty and the growth of the various temperance movements. The other distilleries in Galloway were forced to close but Bladnoch survived. Between 1911 and 1937 it was owned by Wm Dunville & Co. Ltd, an Irish company, and on the outbreak of World War II whisky production ceased, but malt continued to be produced until 1949 when the distillery closed until 1957.

Upon re-opening under new ownership whisky production began again and continued under a number of different owners until 1983 when Bell’s took over and initiated a programme of modernisation and computerisation. In 1987 the United Distillers Group took over Bell’s and continued the modernisation as a result of which the weekly production rose to over 36,000 L, more than eight times the output in 1887. The mothballed distillery was discovered by Irishman Raymond Armstrong while on holiday in the area in 1994. After several years spent finding and replacing the old plant and equipment, the distillery reopened for production in late 2000. The first 8-year-old product produced by the new team became available in 2009. The company operating Bladnoch Distillery, Co-Ordinated Development Services, went into liquidation on 10 March 2014. The distillery was bought in July 2015 by Australian yoghurt mogul David Prior, who had sold his five:am yoghurt business for £52m in August 2014.[3] At the moment the shop is not open, nor are distillery tours available.

The Whiskyphiles tasting notes

Official Bottling
  • Bladnoch-Kippford-9-Years-Old-Bottled-May-2014 Bladnoch 9 Years Old 2005 Kippford (2016) - Bladnoch 9 Years Old 2005 Kippford (46%, OB, 5cl, 2014) Category: Lowland single malt scotch whisky Origin: Bladnoch Distillery Bottling: Official – Bladnoch Distillery ABV: 46% Cost: ~ £3-4 for 5cl Miniature […]
  • bladnoch-10-year-old-bourbon-cask-whisky Bladnoch 10 Years Old (2020) - Quite short on the palate and slightly vaporous, quite light and makes a good introductory whisky - fitting the light & grassy Lowland style. 82/100
  • Bladnoc-11-Years-Old-Sherry-Cask-Matured-single-malt-scotch-whisky Bladnoch 11 Years Old Sherry Matured (2014) - Bladnoch 11 Years Old Sheep Label Sherry Matured (55%, OB, 2013) Lowland single malt scotch whisky 55% ABV, £50 for 70cl Score: 83/100 What they say: A deliciously sherried single malt from […]
  • Bladnoch 12YO Sherry Matured 55 Bladnoch 12 Years Old Sherry Matured (2014) - Bladnoch 12 Years Old Sheep Label Sherry Matured (55%, OB, 2013) 55% ABV, £50 for 70cl Score: 83/100 What they say: A 12 year old release of Bladnoch’s sherry matured single malt […]
  • bladnoch-adela-15-year-old-whisky Bladnoch Adela (2017) - Bladnoch 15 Years Old Adela (46.7%, OB, 2017) Category: Lowland single malt scotch whisky Origin: Bladnoch Distillery Bottling: Bladnoch ABV: 46.7% Cost: £95.06 What they say: Bladnoch Adela 15 Year Old Our […]
  • bladnoch-samsara-whisky Bladnoch Samsara (2017) - Bladnoch Samsara (46.7%, OB, 2016) Category: Lowland single malt scotch whisky Origin: Bladnoch Distillery Bottling: Bladnoch ABV: 46.7% Cost: £74.03 What they say: Bladnoch Samsara A tribute to the rebirth of our […]
Independent Bottling
Adelphi
  • Bladnoch 24 Years Old 1990 Adelphi Selection (2014) - Bladnoch 24 Years Old 1990 Adelphi Selection (54.1%, Adelphi, Refill Bourbon Cask #30549, 169 Bottles, 2014) Single malt scotch whisky 54.1% ABV, ~ £95 for 70cl Score: 88/100 What they say: A […]
Scotch Malt Whisky Society
  • SMWS-50.63-Boozy-Buccaneers!-Bladnoch-24-Years-Old-1990 SMWS 50.63 Boozy buccaneers! (2016) - Bladnoch 24 Years Old 1990 50.63 Boozy buccaneers! ~ 58.3% (SMWS) Category: Lowland single malt scotch whisky Origin: Bladnoch Distillery Bottling: Scotch Malt Whisky Society; cask 50.63 ABV: 58.3% Cost: £112.18 What […]
  • SMWS-50.65-Tutti-Frutti SMWS 50.65 Tutti Frutti (2016) - Bladnoch 25 Years Old 1990 50.65 Tutti Frutti ~ 52.5% (SMWS) Category: Lowland single malt scotch whisky Origin: Bladnoch Distillery Bottling: Scotch Malt Whisky Society; Cask 50.65 ABV: 52.5% Cost: £110 What […]
Whisky Broker
  • Bladnoch-8-Years-Old-2006-Whb Bladnoch 8 Years Old 2006 Single Cask 257 (2016) - Bladnoch 8 Years Old 2006 (57.1%, Whiskybroker, 1st Fill Bourbon Barrel #257, 261 Bottles, 2015) Category: Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky Origin: Bladnoch Distillery Bottling: Whiskybroker ABV: 57.1% Cost: £49.70 from Whiskybroker […]