Bladnoch Liora Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 52.2%

New oak is a risky thing to hand a light Lowland malt. Use too much and the spirit vanishes into sawdust. Liora finds the spot where oak adds spice instead of taking over.

Expert description

Bladnoch Liora is a Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in Ex-Bourbon and New Oak and bottled at 52.2% without chill filtration and without added colour.

The combination of refill bourbon casks and new American oak is chosen to set the distillery's fresh apple character against toasted caramel and spice. New oak gives up considerably more tannin and vanillin than a refill cask, which is why it is usually used in smaller proportions.

Liora belongs to Bladnoch's named series, where the age statement is dropped in favour of the cask make-up. The high bottling strength is part of the concept and makes the whisky more concentrated than the Lowland style normally is.

Tasting notes

Nose

Fresh cut apples with toasted caramel and a floral note on top.

Palate

Caramelised apples with spice and freshly cut oak. The strength carries everything and gives the whisky a weight unusual for the region.

Finish

Long with a gently warming dryness where the oak gets the last word.

Specifications

Name: Bladnoch Liora Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 52.2%
Distillery: Bladnoch
Region/Country: Lowlands, Scotland
Type: Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 52,2%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Ex-Bourbon and New Oak
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Edition: Liora
EAN no.: 857921006051

Flavour profile

Fresh · Spiced · Floral · Caramel · Powerful

Did you know?

New oak must be toasted on the inside before it can be used. The degree of toasting decides whether the cask gives vanilla and coconut or darker notes of caramel and smoke — one of the most precise levers a whisky maker has.

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Frequently asked questions about Bladnoch Liora Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 52.2%

What does new oak do to the whisky?

It gives generously: vanillin, tannin, spice and toasted sweetness. On a light spirit it can take over quickly, which is why it is often used only as part of the make-up.

Why 52.2% and not lower?

Because the higher strength holds on to aromatic compounds that would otherwise be diluted away. The whisky is also not chill filtered, so the texture is fatter than in a standard bottling.

Should I add water?

Try it neat first, then add water drop by drop. At 52.2% even a small amount clearly opens the floral and fruity notes.

What does the name Liora mean?

Bladnoch uses names rather than age statements in its named series. The distillery ties the names to the character of the whisky rather than to a set maturation period.

Is it peated?

No. Bladnoch works with unpeated malt, and there is no peat in Liora. Smoked alternatives are gathered under Peaty Whisky.

Will it go cloudy with water?

Probably, and that is as it should be. Without chill filtration the fatty compounds drop out at low temperature or low alcohol strength, and the haze is purely cosmetic.