Review | Bladnoch Loch Maberry: Stories of Bladnoch Chapter Two

This whisky is the second instalment from Bladnoch of their Loch Maberry: Stories of Bladnoch limited-edition series of single malts whiskies. The series celebrates individuals who have a deep affinity with the distillery. In partnership with Bladnoch’s master distiller, Dr Nick Savage, the whiskies are selected by these individuals. The cask selected for Chapter Two was distilled in 2006 and matured in a sherry butt cask.

Chapter Two was selected by Elizabeth Cobbett, the great-great-granddaughter of Thomas McClelland who, with his older brother John, founded the distillery at Bladnoch in 1817. Elizabeth always knew her family had once run Bladnoch Distillery and after her parents’ passing, she uncovered photographs in their attic which lead her to explore her family history. Elizabeth discovered her grandmother, Margaret Tyrer (née McClelland), had been born in 1882 near the distillery, where the McClelland family earned their living before moving to Liverpool at the turn of the century when Bladnoch was sold.

Bladnoch was founded in 1817 by brothers John and Thomas McClelland. It is the oldest Lowland distillery that remains in production, beating Auchentoshan (founded in 1823) and Glenkinchie (1837). It is also Scotland’s oldest privately-owned Scotch whisky distillery. The distillery is in a remote spot of Dumfries & Galloway, close to the village of Wigtown. This is further south than parts of northern England, including the city of Newcastle.

The name is derived from the ancient Gaelic place name of Blaidzenoch. The nearby River Bladnoch supplies the water for whisky production. The current owner is David Prior, who saved the distillery from liquidation in 2015. He funded a complete renovation with production recommencing in 2017. The current capacity is 1.5 million litres per year.

Loch Maberry is the source of the River Bladnoch, which provides the water for the distillery.

When we share Stories of Bladnoch, we celebrate history, adventure, and community, and Elizabeth’s story captures all of this. Her 20-year journey reconnecting with the distillery her great-great-grandfather co-founded shows that, like whisky, connections take time and patience to mature. From initial uncertainty to writing her own tasting notes, her experience reminds us why we make whisky.

Dr Nick Savage | Bladnoch’s Master Distiller

With an ABV of 48.6%, Chapter Two of Loch Maberry: Stories of Bladnoch has a natural colour and is non-chill filtered. It is presented in a box which contains letters from Elizabeth and Dr Nick Savage describing their experiences of collaborating to craft the whisky. Valued at £150, it is available to purchase from bladnoch.com. Only 593 bottles are available.

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Our Tasting Notes

This whisky is a deep coppery amber colour. On the nose it is richly sweet and fruity. Lots of raisins, sultanas, prunes, dried apple and dried figs are present. This is enhanced with the earthiness of dried porcini mushroom and liquorice root plus a bacon-like meatiness and a hint of leather. Rounding this out are notes of bitter orange oil.

On the palate this whisky starts with sweetness and umami notes. There are sugary raisins, dried prunes, with milk chocolate plus burnt caramel or cinder toffee. The umami flavours comes across as dried porcini mushrooms and a hint of burnt bacon. There is plenty of warming earthy spicy character of ginger root and liquorice root. Bitterness of dried orange peel and some dried alpine herbs. Leather, tobacco, and old cigar box are imparted from the significant time in the cask.

The finish is long and drying with plenty of sarsaparilla or chinotto, rich fruit and umami. The sweetness fades over time to leave a lingering drier and nuttier flavour.

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What’s The Verdict?

Chapter Two is a very expressive ex-sherry cask. Knowing that this whisky was distilled in 2006, although not stated, we must assume approximately 18 or 19 years in the cask. There is a very desirable balance of sweet, fruit and savoury. And at £150 this is a remarkably well priced single cask of single malt to be released directly from the distillery. This is an interesting approach from the brand to deliver some of their unique whiskies and we love the storytelling and the snapshot of time it brings us.