Bladnoch Unveils Wave II: Distillery & Spirit Single Malt

Bladnoch have just dropped Wave II from their Master Distiller’s Collection, and it’s a pretty clever concept they’ve got going here. Dr Nick Savage is essentially walking us through his whisky-making philosophy with this five-part series, using what he calls his “five pillars” approach.

Here’s the interesting bit – they’re using five Amontillado sherry tuns, and each year they’re revealing different cask combinations that represent another pillar of their process. Wave II focuses on “Distillery & Spirit,” which is basically showcasing that classic Lowland character Bladnoch’s known for. They’ve married re-charred butts and barrels with first-fill ex-bourbon in that second Amontillado tun.

What’s quite neat is the continuity aspect – they’re carrying whisky forward from each release into the next, creating this “wave effect” that’ll culminate in the fifth release containing elements from the entire series. It’s like a liquid timeline of their approach.

The liquid itself is bottled at 57% ABV, non-chill filtered, natural colour – all the boxes you’d expect ticked. Tasting notes are hitting those classic Lowland markers: pear drops, pineapple, ginger on the palate, with that floral finish Bladnoch’s built their “Queen of the Lowlands” reputation on.

Limited to 1,817 bottles (nice touch with the founding year), £125 RRP, available direct from the distillery. This follows Wave I from June 2024, which was all about time and maturation.

It’s David Prior’s continued push since taking over in 2015 – first Aussie to own a Scotch distillery, and he’s clearly backing Savage’s vision for showcasing what makes Bladnoch tick. Smart way to educate the market while creating collectible releases.