Bottles

Pour & Sip

“To Brother John Cor, by order of the King, to make aqua vitae VIII bolls of malt." Fans of whisky and history may recognise that entry in the Exchequer Rolls from 1 Jun 1494 as the first recorded mention of Scotch whisky (or at least distilled malt spirit). It’s claimed this relates to Lindores Abbey, a site where – 523 years later – Drew & Helen McKenzie Smith returned distilling in 2017.

For this release the husband and wife duo hit the history books again. Lindores was a Tironensian abbey, and this whisky uses new French oak casks from trees grown in Thiron-Gardais. These add aromatic roasted notes that play off Lindores’ usual fruity, creamy character from long fermentations and the other casks (their usual combo of bourbon barrels and STR Burgundy red wine barriques). Head blender Lorena Baez Subiabre says these casks in the right ratios “worked like magic”.

Pour & Sip

Founded in 1817, Bladnoch was once known as the ‘Queen of the Lowlands’, but hasn’t had an easy history. Closed between 1938 and 1956, then closed again in 1993 (nearly becoming holiday homes), production resumed between 2000 and 2014 before trouble hit once more. David Prior purchased Bladnoch the following year and began two years of renovations under the guidance of Ian Macmillan, former Burn Stewart (Bunnahahbhain, Deanston & Tobermory) master distiller and master blender. With the place back up and running Prior next turned to Nick Savage (former Macallan master distiller) to continue the good work.

Back in 2021 we featured their new Vinaya release. It was Samsara (meaning ‘rebirth’) that was actually their first release after reopening in 2017 however, matured in bourbon and Californian red wine casks and still very much part of the range.