Bladnoch 1987/1999 Connoisseurs Choice NO BOX 12 years old Single Lowland Malt Scotch Whisky 40%

Distilled in 1987, bottled in 1999. Between those two dates Bladnoch changed hands, fell silent and was restarted — and the whisky simply waited in the cask, none the wiser.

Please note: The bottle is sold without its original box.

Expert description

Bladnoch 1987/1999 Connoisseurs Choice 12 Years is a Single Lowland Malt Scotch Whisky bottled at 40% by Gordon & MacPhail.

Connoisseurs Choice is Gordon & MacPhail's oldest and best known series of independent bottlings, and the early releases with the map label are sought after in their own right today. The series has historically been the route to whisky from distilleries that were either closed or released nothing themselves.

The 1987 Bladnoch spirit dates from the years under Bell's and later United Distillers, that is, before the modern rebuilding of the distillery. It is a pale, classic Lowland style that would hardly be made the same way now.

Tasting notes

Nose

Pale and clean with grain, hay and lemon peel. Given time, pear and a light waxiness come forward.

Palate

Soft and dry with malt, white fruit and a touch of almond. 40% keeps it light, but there is a maturity in the middle that only time provides.

Finish

Short to medium, dry and grainy with a trace of oak.

Specifications

Name: Bladnoch 1987/1999 Connoisseurs Choice 12 Years Single Lowland Malt Scotch Whisky 40%
Distillery: Bladnoch
Bottler: Gordon & MacPhail
Region/Country: Lowlands, Scotland
Type: Single Lowland Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Distilled: 1987
Bottled: 1999
Edition: Connoisseurs Choice
EAN no.: 5020613209824

Flavour profile

Light · Grainy · Dry · Fruity · Classic

Investment potential

High. A vintage from a period that will not return, released in a series with collector value of its own. Older Connoisseurs Choice bottles with map labels have become a category in themselves.

Did you know?

Gordon & MacPhail began buying casks as early as 1895 and has stored whisky in its own warehouse in Elgin ever since. The company today also owns the Benromach distillery.

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Frequently asked questions about Bladnoch 1987/1999 Connoisseurs Choice 12 Years Single Lowland Malt Scotch Whisky 40%

What is Connoisseurs Choice?

It is Gordon & MacPhail's series of single distillery bottlings from across Scotland. The series dates back to the 1960s and has carried several label designs over the years, with the oldest now the most sought after. See the whole series under Connoisseurs Choice.

Why is a 12 year old whisky from 1987 interesting?

Because the age is not the point — the vintage is. The spirit was made during a production period that has ended, and only what is already bottled exists.

Is it worth the money?

The value lies in the vintage, in the distillery having been closed several times since, and in the Connoisseurs Choice series from that era becoming a collector's object. The whisky in the glass is a classic, light Lowland malt.

Does the missing box matter?

For collectors it can, since original packaging feeds into the valuation of a bottle. For anyone who plans to drink the whisky, it changes nothing.

How does whisky from the 1980s taste different?

Many point to different barley, slower fermentation and older cask types. Whether the difference is as large as some claim is disputed — but production conditions were undoubtedly different.

Should I drink it or keep it?

Both are legitimate. Whisky does not develop in the bottle, so it gets neither better nor worse from standing. If you want to taste the history, there is no reason to wait.