Bladnoch Samsara

Samsara is the entry level malt of the ‘new’ Bladnoch that is being run by Australian businessman David Prior since 2015. This is a NAS-whisky, obviously composed with stocks that were laid down by Raymond Armstrong and his team. The ABV is to my liking. Insiders claim that the contents is at least 8 years old, matured on bourbon casks and red wine casks from California. Samara, by the way, is old Germanic and means ‘rebirth’. You can see why.

Well, the nose is a bit of a scare, actually. This reminds me of baby puke. I kid you not. Buttery, sweet and sour with loads of oranges. No, really, this is over the top. When it isn’t, I write baby breath, but this is puke, simple and pure. I’m sorry, that’s what I smell. Yikes!

It is very creamy on the palate, but the wine is too much. Plums, violets, strawberry jam and sweet malt. It easily crosses over into being winey which is just not pleasant. I am pulling faces as I sip.

Unfortunately the finish is very long, bitter and drying.

Ouch, this one reminds me of that Dalmore 1994 on Medoc from 2005. The fact that I remember it says a lot. Around 80 EUR. That is not cheap, either. To be avoided.

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