Company History

• Founded in 1817 by John and Thomas McClelland at Bladnoch Farm, Lowlands; known as the “Queen of the Lowlands”.
• The 1900s saw several changes in ownership; in 1956 Bladnoch Distillery Limited was founded and production continued.
• In 1966 the production capacity was expanded to four distillation stills.
• From 1983–1993, owned by Arthur Bell & Sons and later privately owned by Raymond and Colin Armstrong.
• In 2015, purchased by Australian entrepreneur David Prior; extensive renovation and restart of production in 2017, while celebrating the 200th anniversary.
• In 2019 Master Distiller Dr. Nick Savage took the helm; launch of a modern visitor centre, gift shop, and Melba Café.
• In 2025 announced partnership with the Wigtown Book Festival; hosting Wave Weekends and ongoing releases such as the Loch Maberry chapter and Wave II launch.
• Bladnoch is today one of the oldest and family-owned Scotch distilleries, located in southern Scotland.

Production Details

• Special ingredients: water from the Bladnoch River; malt from British maltsters; focus on Lowland single malt production.
• Production philosophy: “taste-first, Lowland whisky-making” with a forward-looking approach – always innovative and based on past experience.
• The Wave series (Master Distiller’s Collection) focuses on five pillars of whisky making presented through annual releases.
• The Wave I (Time & Maturation): masterfully tuned in a 1,500-liter Amontillado Sherry-tuned cask together with ex-Bourbon stills.
• The Wave II (Distillery & Spirit): a combination of re-charred butts/barrels and first-fill ex-Bourbon in a second Amontillado Sherry-tuned cask; focuses on the distillery and spirit character with fruity, floral notes.
• Time- and tasting-related characteristics in the Wave series: five pillars of whisky making, experimental blends, and ages between 8 and 19 years across different collections.
• Availability / distribution: global distribution in 40+ countries; shop and online orders with varying VAT/duties and beverage selections.

Whisky Products

• The Bold Collection: focus on flavor intensity through blending of different cask types; releases such as Vinaya, Samsara and Alinta; 8 Year Old Dram, as well as other age-statement variations and The Bold Collection Gift Set.
• The Galloway Collection: noble craftsman, single- and double-cask aging in first-fill casks; 8, 13, 16 and 19 Year Old releases; 30 Year Old numbered premium edition.
• The Spirited Collection: rarities and innovations with limited releases of Master Distiller’s limited-edition pieces (e.g., Wave I, Wave II and other Spirited lines).
• The Wave (Wave I and Wave II): Master Distiller’s Collection, focused on the time and maturation pillars; The Wave I: Time & Maturation; The Wave II: Distillery & Spirit; both dram-based products with unique small-batch releases (1,817 bottles for Wave I, limited Wave II).
• Personalised Single Malt Whisky: option for personalized engraving on Lowland single malts.
• The Bold Collection Gift Set (3x20cl) and The Wave I/II drams and “Dram Back” offers on the labels.
• The Samhla Collection (Sage) and Loch Maberry: Stories of Bladnoch (Chapter 2) along with other special releases and chapters in the Loch Maberry series.
• The Dragon Series: The Field and The Spirit (The Dragon Series Collection).
• International and cross-series releases and limited editions (e.g., 30 Year Old, 19 Year Old, 16 Year Old, 13 Year Old; 8 Year Old Dram among others).

Tasting Notes

• Samsara Dram: Vanilla, citrus, rich fruitiness; nose of vanilla cream, floral notes and apples; palate with thick vanilla fudge and a sweet finish.
• Alinta Dram: Campfire flavour, smoky notes; nose of smoked ice cream, flowers and oak; palate with campfire smoke, almonds, raisins and white chocolate; long sweet smoky finish.
• 8 Year Old Dram: Strawberries, herbs and some green pine needles, strawberry jam, polished oak and nutmeg; long sweet and warm finish.
• Wave I Dram: Floral, oak and sweet profile; nose of floral conifers and fresh oak; palate of sweet oak and coconut; finish warm and refreshing.
• Wave II Dram: Pear Drops, Pineapple, Ginger; nose of pears and summer barley; palate of baked pineapple and ginger snaps; floral, fresh but spicy finish.
• The Wave II (dram format and Master Distiller’s Collection) provides a detailed portrayal of distillery and spirit character through mussel-shell-like combinations and Amontillado Sherry tunings.
• General flavor characteristics: fruity, floral, and lightly spicy with a balance of oak notes, sweetness, and varnish-like finish.

Events and News

• Partnership with the Wigtown Book Festival (beginning September 2025): focus on community, storytelling and culture; highlighting Bold Galloway Spirit through local volunteers and festival activities.
• Wave Weekend 2025 (14–15 June 2025): first exclusive release of The Wave II; live music, food stalls, expert tastings and theatre-based experiences; tickets and events such as Wave Bespoke Tours.
• Night of Stories and Bold Spirit: special evenings on-site at the distillery with stories of Galloway and the launch of Loch Maberry Chapter 2.
• Visits and tours: Classic Tour, Spirited Tour and Taste First Experience; visitor centre and Melba Café; opening hours and booking information for visits.
• New releases and limited editions: The Wave II, Loch Maberry Chapter Two, Samhla and Dragon Series lines; ongoing news via newsletter and website.
• Global distribution and availability: Bladnoch Distillery products are available in 40+ countries; information on shipping, currencies and delivery is provided on the website.

Philosophy and Values

• Focus on quality and craftsmanship through a “taste-first” approach and a progressive, yet storytelling, Lowland whisky philosophy.
• Galloway-spirit and community focus integrated in everything from partnerships (Wigtown Book Festival) to guest events and local collaborations.
• Long-term sustainable development: the revival of Bladnoch in 2015 and ongoing investment in the distillery's facilities, master distiller development, and visitor experiences.
• Openness about production mechanisms through the Master Distiller’s Collection and The Wave: learning through experiments with different cask types and maturation processes.
• The values of courage, warmth and perseverance of the Galloway spirit identity, reflected in distinctive products and exclusive events.