Bladnoch 2001 13-year-old, Single Cask, 53.1%

Bought: Demijohn, 27^th May 2015

Ratings:
None as yet.

I was all set to buy a bottle of Bladnoch 20yo (Sheep Label) from Holland for £42 earlier this year when I discovered the distillery was in liquidation. Before I could blink the whisky had sold out and I’ve not seen it since. Even if I did it wouldn’t be for £42, which was ridiculously cheap at the time. But all whisky collectors can feel my pain. With so many distilleries and bottles out there it’s impossible to be ready to pounce on every good deal you see. I have a budget and some months I’ve spent it all by the end of the first week! These days I’ve stopped looking at whisky shops when I’ve spent my budget so I avoid temptation. Anyone would think I was an addict! 😉

Thankfully Demijohn came to the rescue and I selected one of their quaint, squiggly bottles to contain a cask-strength Bladnoch they had available (sadly no more). The website details for this 13-year-old were:

“This delightful single malt whisky is from cask no.130, filled on 30th May 2001. It is one of the first few casks produced by Armstrong Brothers’ Raymond and Colin at their Bladnoch Distillery after taking ownership from United Distillers in 2000.”

Bladnoch 2001 12-year-old, Single Cask, 55.2%

Bought: Demijohn, 27^th May 2015

Ratings:
None as yet.

I love whisky and I like curious bottle shapes, so buying from Demijohn is a match made in heaven. You select what liquid you want and then the size and shape of the bottle you want it in. I first bought from Demijohn back in September 2013 when I got an 11yo Bladnoch. Since then the Armstrong brothers no longer own the distillery and I’m not sure what the latest news is on its fate. Finding bottles of Bladnoch suddenly became difficult as collectors and enthusiasts dived in. Thankfully I discovered that Demijohns had added a new 12yo and 13yo to their website. The details for this 12yo were given as:

“This delightful single malt whisky is from cask no.227, filled on 28th September 2001. It is one of the first few casks produced by Armstrong Brothers’ Raymond and Colin at their Bladnoch Distillery after taking ownership from United Distillers in 2000.”

Sadly this whisky has sold out and it’s so obscure it’s not even listed on Whiskybase. Would it make a good investment? Probably not because the seal can be easily removed and resealed (it’s very basic) but I’ve seen plenty of bottles sell at auction where this is also possible. Yet another reason I don’t like whisky auctions because it seems to be a case of ‘buyer beware!’

Demijohn’s Finest Blended Scotch Whisky

Bought – Demijohn, 4th September 2013

It was discovering this blend in the ‘Whisky Bible 2013’ that lead me to Demijohn. The company was founded in 2004, in Edinburgh, as the “World’s first liquid deli”. You choose the liquid you want and which Italian glass bottle you’d like to receive it in.  Some of the bottles looked stunning, and I ended up tempted by their Bladnoch and Caol Ila malts too.

Here’s a quote from the Demijohn website about this blend: “Blended for us by Adelphi Distillery this delicious blend contains a little of our much loved Caol Ila Single Malt, balanced against a couple of Speyside Single Malts, including Linkwood Single Malt Whisky.”

Ratings:
88/100 – Whisky Bible 2013

Caol Ila Single Cask 2004

Bought – Demijohn, 4th September 2013

Ratings:
81/100 – Whiskybase (from 1 member vote)

Quote from Demijohn website about the whisky: “This particular single cask malt is from Cask No. 304640, filled in 2004 and limited originally to approximately 275 bulk litres. It took over a year to secure, so appreciate this single malt whisky while you still can!”

I’m delighted to find that someone has now added this independent bottling (IB) of Caol Ila on Whiskybase where they say “Young and feisty, with lots of peat on the nose and palate. Rather expensive compared to other young Caol Ila IBs.”

Bladnoch Single Cask 11-year-old

Bought – Demijohn, 4th September 2013

Quote about the whisky from Demijohn: “This delightful single malt whisky is from cask no. 317, filled on 12th December 2001. It is one of the first few casks produced by Armstrong Brothers’ Raymond and Colin at their Bladnoch Distillery after taking ownership from United Distillers in 2000.”