Is there any Scotch whisky similar
to Irish whiskey?
That is a question I recently had to answer when I was tasked with finding one within our stock rather than buying one directly on the market. And the short answer is yes.
The main difference between Irish and Scotch whiskies lies in the distillation process, the types of grains used, their smoothness, and flavor characteristics.
Irish whiskey is known for its smoothness due to a third distillation and the absence of peat. Many Irish whiskies feature light, fruity flavors with notes of vanilla, caramel, and honey.
So, finding a Scotch whisky with similar traits in the stock was a tricky task.
However, some Scotch whiskies, especially from the Lowland region, are also known for being delicate and smooth. Additionally, a good blended malt, such as some Speyside blends, can provide a smooth, fruity, and complex profile that resembles Irish whiskey.
From personal experience, I knew to steer clear of the smoky, earthy flavor typical of Islay, which is known for its peat.
While checking the stock, I found a few Speysides, but I wasn't convinced until that bottle of Antique Lions of Spirits 'The Butterflies' Bladnoch 27 Years Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (1990-2017) - (Selected & bottled for Antique Lions of Spirits - ALOS -) caught my eye.
As per Wikipedia, "Bladnoch distillery is a Lowland single malt Scotch whisky distillery located at Bladnoch, near Wigtown, Dumfries and Galloway in south west Scotland. The distillery is situated on the banks of the River Bladnoch. It is one of six remaining Lowland distilleries, and is the most southerly whisky distillery in Scotland." (*)
Bladnoch's recent history is filled with twists and turns. In 1987, the United Distillers Group acquired the distillery but closed it in 1993. A Northern Irishman named Raymond Armstrong discovered it during a holiday in 1994, and although he initially planned to convert it into a holiday home, he changed his mind and decided to refurbish it. The distillery reopened for production in December 2000. The company operating Bladnoch shut down in March 2014. In July 2015, Australian entrepreneur David Prior purchased the distillery, and it resumed production in the spring of 2017. In July 2019, Dr. Nick Savage, who previously worked for William Grant & Sons and served as Master Distiller at The Macallan, joined Bladnoch as Master Distiller. (*)
The resulting whisky is part of the "Butterfly Series," created from three carefully selected casks chosen and bottled by Antique Lions of Spirits - ALOS - a collaboration between three friends and whisky enthusiasts: Jens Drewitz from Sansibar (a German independent whisky bottler), Max Righi from Whisky Antique (one of the largest sellers of rare and collector spirits worldwide, based in Formigine near Bologna, Italy), and Diego Sandrin from Lion's Whisky (another renowned seller of fine and rare whiskies based in Venice, Italy).
It was distilled by Bladnoch in 1990, aged for 27 years in a Bourbon cask, then bottled in 2017.
Although most online ratings are not particularly eloquent about this whisky (e.g., 87/100 and 89/100), I haven't had the chance to taste it myself, so I cannot confirm or deny them. It was a gift for a guest of one of my bosses, so I just passed on the bottle.
However, in my opinion, special bottlings by third parties like this one are often a hit or miss. On the other hand, it is part of the Lowlands whiskies, which are generally rated lower than their counterparts from the Highlands, Speyside, Islay, and Campbeltown, as they tend to be softer, more delicate, and smoother, and are often underappreciated by purists.
The descriptions I found mention it being a bit old, but the warm vanilla and fruit notes really make the nose stand out. It remains very good on the palate, even with the added grassy notes and bitter edges, offering a long, highly zesty, very grassy finish with hints of resinous oak. That doesn't sound too bad for plates like mine, which don't mind zestiness and bitterness.
If I get the chance to taste it one day, I'll let you know what I really think of it, and if, in fact, it was comparable to an Irish whisky.
Cheers! Santé!
Dom
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For more details, go to the distillery website at: https://www.bladnoch.com/
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