Balblair 2012 Aged 8 Years Single Malt Scotch Whisky – Blackadder Raw Cask 3232 (700ml)

Volume: 700ml           ABV: 57.8%           Age: 8 Years Old           Country: Scotland

Blackadder is an independent bottler of single malt Scotch whisky founded in 1995 byRobin Tucek and John Lamond. Blackadder’s philosophy is very simple, they have a belief that the Cask is King. Sixty to seventy percent of the flavours in a whisky are taken up slowly from the cask as the spirit lies maturing in the warehouse. The whisky is always bottled in clear bottles to see the natural colour of the whisky. They offer a few different bottling series, ‘Raw Cask’ which is whisky direct from the cask without any mechanical filtering leaving fragments of the charred wood in the bottle. ‘Black Snake’ which was introduced in 2014 allowing the company to adopt a Solera system where aged single malts are placed into Oloroso or Px Sherry casks for further ageing. When the cask is deemed ready only two thirds of the casks is taken for bottling and the rest added to the next cask. ‘Red Snake’ uses only aged single malt but this time taking first fill ex Bourbon barrels and using them like in the ‘Black Snake’ bottling’s. ‘Smoking Islay’ is where very smoky Islay peated malt whisky is used but never revealed, a very exciting approach to drinking whisky indeed. ‘Peat Reek’ the casks are selected of whisky produced using malted barley that has been heavily impregnated with the phenols and creosols of a gently-smouldering peat fire. Peat Reek is available in both Raw Cask and 46% Vol versions. ‘Peat Reek Embers’ are specially-selected casks from the well-known Peat Reek portfolio. All have the heavily-peated quality that is a hallmark of Peat Reek, but some of the Embers range have been given cask finishes selected to help further complement the whisky.

This Blackadder Raw Cask was distilled at the Balblair distillery in 2012 and left to mature for 8 years ion a sherry cask. Bottled at 57.8% abv in 2021 and limited to 200 bottles.

Tasting Notes

Nose: Creamy sherry and earthy notes, figs, plums and apricots.

Palate: Fruity and a delight to drink. Milk chocolate ganache, stewed plums, ripe apricots, toasted figs, slightly savoury and rich and creamy.

Finish: Long and creamy with apricots and malted barley.