Bladnoch releases Wave II: Distillery & Spirit –  second instalment in collection showcasing five pillars of whisky making

Bladnoch, Scotland’s oldest privately-owned Scotch whisky distillery has unveiled Wave II: Distillery & Spirit single malt whisky, the second release in The Wave Master Distiller’s Collection.

The Wave is a five-part limited-edition series which walks through the marrying process of whiskies on a journey, that reveals the five whisky making pillars used by Bladnoch master distiller, Dr Nick Savage.

To create The Wave, Dr Nick Savage selected five Amontillado sherry tuns to be filled with whiskies from various combinations of cask types to marry together from the distillery’s 208-year-old bluestone warehouses for annual release. Each year the cask types will be revealed and depict another pillar of Bladnoch whisky making. The remaining whisky will be decanted into the following year’s tun, creating a common thread and a wave effect throughout the series, with the fifth and final release featuring components of the full collection.

Wave II: Distillery & Spirit shines a spotlight on Bladnoch’s Lowland distillery and spirit character. It has been carefully crafted through marrying a combination of re-charred butts and barrels with first-fill ex-bourbon barrels in the second Amontillado sherry tun, a process which champions the fruity, floral distillery character Bladnoch is renowned for.

Dr Nick Savage, Master Distiller at Bladnoch Distillery, said: “All Bladnoch whiskies start their life with the same exceptional Lowland spirit from our stills, which gives us the common thread throughout our single malts. We can use various cask types to mature out different flavours, but everything has the same beginning. Bladnoch is known as ‘Queen of the Lowlands’ and ensuring we distil a truly consistent Lowland style, encompassing fruity pear drops and floral, freshly cut grass, is the essential starting point for our whiskies and provides the identity of our bold Galloway spirit.

“Through The Wave Collection we aim to take people on the unique journey of our whisky over time. Each cask takes notes from the other, building year on year and Wave II: Distillery & Spirit brings to life how important it is to have a robust distillery style. It highlights our floral, fruity character and our Lowland style and how it pieces together with all our other pillars of whisky making to drive our innovative taste-first approach.”

Bottled at 57% ABV, non-chill filtered and natural in colour, Wave II: Distillery & Spirit is characterised by pear drops, pineapples and ginger. On the nose it opens with aromas of pear drops and summer barley, while there are flavours of baked pineapples with ginger snaps on the palate and the finish is floral and fresh yet spiced.

The launch of Wave II: Distillery & Spirit follows the release of Wave I: Time & Maturation in June 2024 which epitomised Bladnoch’s method of selecting casks at the peak time in their maturation process to ensure optimal flavours in the whisky.

In line with Wave I, Wave II is limited to 1,817 bottles in tribute to the year the distillery was founded. It has an RRSP of £125 and is exclusively available to purchase at Bladnoch Distillery or via bladnoch.com where it can be shipped to more than 30 countries around the world.

To mark the new release, Bladnoch hosted Wave Day on Saturday 14 June 2025. Taking place at the distillery, the one-day festival celebrated Bladnoch’s bold Galloway spirit and the history and heritage of the distillery. It was the first opportunity for whisky enthusiasts from across the globe to sample and purchase Wave II.

Dating back to 1817, Bladnoch Distillery is one of the oldest single malt Scotch whisky producers in the world and is enjoying a bold and powerful revival. The legacy brand has been revived in recent years by David Prior, who purchased Bladnoch Distillery in 2015 and is the first Australian businessman to own a Scotch whisky distillery.

Bladnoch Wave II: Distillery & Spirit Tasting notes  

Pear drops, pineapples, ginger

Nose: Pear drops with summer barley

Palate: Baked pineapples with ginger snaps

Finish: Floral. Fresh yet spiced

About Bladnoch Distillery

Bladnoch Distillery was established in 1817, making it the oldest privately owned Scotch whisky distillery in the world. As the southernmost distillery in Scotland, Bladnoch is commonly referred to as the ‘Queen of the Lowlands.’

Hand-crafted using malt from British growers and the pristine water from the River Bladnoch which flows alongside the distillery, Bladnoch single malts are non-chill filtered to ensure the truest flavours shine through.

This legacy brand has been revived in recent years by Master Distiller, Dr Nick Savage, formerly of The Macallan, and owner David Prior, who purchased Bladnoch Distillery in 2015 and is the first Australian businessman to own a Scotch whisky distillery.

Bladnoch has been commended with several high-profile award wins in recent years, most recently at the World Whiskies Awards 2025, where Bladnoch 16 Year Old was awarded gold in the ‘Single Malt – 13 to 20 Years’ category and Bladnoch 13 Year Old taking silver in the same division. In the San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2025 Bladnoch was awarded a trio of prestigious awards, receiving double gold medals for each of its Vinaya, Samsara and 13 Year Old Lowland single malt whiskies.

The team at Bladnoch is truly passionate about the preservation of the environment and the local community’s generational involvement in this iconic distillery.

A limited number of whisky casks are now available for private ownership at Kingsbarns Distillery — a rare opportunity to become part of our story and lay down your own spirit for the future. In this edition of the Doocot Times, we will be covering maturation, storage and keeping up to date with your cask.

SECURE YOUR CASK

Lagavulin 11 Year Old “Offerman Edition” Caribbean Rum Cask Finished Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) (Elsewhere $90) $39.99 View

Produced in partnership with actor Nick Offerman (whose character Ron Swanson on the hit TV show Parks and Recreation had a profound fondness for Lagavulin and a rare steak), the 2021 Offerman Edition won the title of Whiskey Advocate’s #1 whiskey of 2021.

Email: wine@klwines.com
Phone: (877) KL-WINES (Toll Free 877.559.4637)
K&L Wine Merchants 3005 El Camino Real Redwood City, CA 94061 USA
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA

2011 Bruichladdich 11 Year Old “Dramfool’s Jim McEwan Signature Collection 5.1″ First Fill Bourbon Cask #2477 Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) (Previously $325) $228.89 View

Colour – Primrose Yellow, Aromas – Opens beautifully on a combination of Primrose, Myrtle, Lily, Marigold and mint. It’s like walking through the peat fires next to the Atlantic Ocean! Then the sweetness of the toasted barley and mellow oak drift in bringing with them little hints of bourbon spiciness laid down by the first spirit matured in the cask. “Its gentle on my mind” Taste – The spirit is balanced & restrained on the palate. This is pure Islay; No smoke, just barley & oak and time by the Ocean. The opulent flavours seduce the taste buds with mellow oak and barley sugars. The Maritime Islay character is with you all the way, fresh and clean and packed with passion & traditional skills from a dedicated team of Distillers who bring the magic to the spirit. No computers, no colouring, no chill filtration, just a special spirit from a special place.

According to the bottler: “Distilled on 11th July 2011 this whisky spent its whole 11-year life maturing in cask #2477. This maturation took place in a 1st fill bourbon cask from an unknown American Distillery. Bottled in July 2022 as Release 5.1 of the Jim McEwan Signature Collection, like all bottlings within the collection, it was bottled un-chill filtered, with no added colour, and at natural cask strength of 59.0% (as we always say, Jim would have it no other way!), it yielded only 238 bottles.”

Email: wine@klwines.com
Phone: (877) KL-WINES (Toll Free 877.559.4637)
K&L Wine Merchants 3005 El Camino Real Redwood City, CA 94061 USA
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA

Big Peat Fèis Ìle 2025 Edition

The Big Peat Fèis Ìle 2025 Edition – a return to Islay roots, matured in Refill Hogsheads and distilled in 2010. Expect the classic Big Peat hit of sweet smoke, briny sea air, and rugged notes of sugary kelp, coal dust, chimney soot, and damp bonfire ash — all finishing with his signature smoky BBQ swagger. Bold and Peaty.

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Big Peat is a marriage of Single Malt Scotch Whiskies only from the island of Islay. With Caol Ila spirit bringing sweetness, Bowmore the perfect balance, Ardbeg a medicinal, earthy quality and Port Ellen, a degree of elegance, Big Peat represents all that is Islay in a bottle. Part of the Remarkable Regional Malts range, the ultimate distillation of Scotland’s Malt Whisky Regions.

OLOROSO CASK MATURED

NOSE Sweet cinnamon aromas provide a welcoming introduction, with cocoa powder, cranberry and redcurrant notes emerging.

PALATE Mixed berry notes come to the forefront on the palate, along with hints of strawberry bubble gum, sticky toffee pudding and blackberries.

FINISH A nuttiness presents in the finish in notes of hazelnut and walnut.

UK RRP £75 – £78

The 51 is the oldest and most daring whisky ever to be released by The Glenrothes and the first in the world that can only be accessed by destroying its packaging.  A bold reimagining rooted in the founding story of our distillery, it is a celebration of the rewards of commitment and a testament to the founders who dreamt of daring elegance – and forged beauty from brokenness to bring it to life.

Discover More

This exceptional whisky is made from just two casks handpicked by our Master Whisky Maker, Laura Rampling. A vibrant and fragrant wonder, Jonny Fowle, Global Head of Whisky at Sotheby’s said “…the tropical fruit characteristics are bright and expressive, with a vitality that is rare to find in a whisky of such an age…”

The 51 is now available and bottles are already being acquired by collectors and connoisseurs around the world.  Will you become the next ‘keeper’ to discover what lies within the jesmonite column?  If you are interested in purchasing a bottle (RRP: £37,000) please email concierge@theglenrothes.com.

12 YO CASK STRENGTH

NOSE A sweet and vibrant introduction to this dram, there are notes of pineapple and banana loaf.

PALATE A slight hint of peat smoke kicks off the palate, with notes of milk chocolate and creme brulee.

FINISH The sweetness continues in the finish, along with notes of cinnamon.

UK RRP £70 – £72

Approved Course Provider Programme

Ever thought about teaching whisky in your local community? This latest video explores how our Approved Course Provider Programme supports passionate educators around the world to deliver whisky education of the highest standard, with full access to expert materials, training and support. Whether you’re already running a drinks training business or just starting out, this is your chance to offer world-class whisky qualifications backed by the Scottish Qualifications Authority.

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BUFFALO TRACE DISTILLERY REACHES HIGHER WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF EAGLE RARE 12: A PERMANENT NEW ADDITION TO ITS AWARD-WINNING PORTFOLIO

 Enabled by the Distillery’s 10-year, $1.2 Billion Expansion Project, Eagle Rare 12 embodies the heights reached when time-honored tradition and bold innovation merge together

 FRANKFORT, KY (June 2025) – Buffalo Trace Distillery formally announces the introduction of Eagle Rare 12: a bold, aspirational, yet accessible bourbon and the latest result of the World’s Most Award-Winning Distillery’s commitment to distilling and aging expertise. The latest age-stated addition to the famed Eagle Rare lineup, Eagle Rare 12 debuts as the Distillery completes its 10-year, $1.2 billion expansion project, which played a pivotal role in its creation.

With the release of Eagle Rare 12, Buffalo Trace Distillery continues its endeavor to offer enthusiasts innovative new expressions on its journey to make the world’s best whiskey. The liquid – Buffalo Trace’s iconic Mashbill #1 – is aged for a minimum of 12 years in meticulously-monitored warehouses, with each barrel hand-selected by the distillery’s expert team. In addition to aging a minimum of two years longer than Eagle Rare 10, this special expression is bottled at 95-proof (47.5% ABV) to deliver exceptional depth, character and distinction.

“This whiskey represents more than just time in the barrel—it’s the result of years of dedication, innovation, and an unwavering commitment from our entire team,” says Buffalo Trace Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley. “The investments we’ve made – in time, resources and effort – have allowed us to explore new possibilities in aging and flavor, and this release is a proud reflection of that journey.”

Eagle Rare 12 opens with a sweet, oaky aroma and delicate hints of almond. On the palate, it delivers bold complexity, featuring subtle vanilla and toasted oak, leading to a rich, lingering finish with warm notes of toffee.

“At Buffalo Trace Distillery, we believe there are no shortcuts to create outstanding whiskey – there is no substitute for quality time spent in the barrel. With Eagle Rare, we are always striving but never satisfied, constantly experimenting to enable better-tasting age stated bourbons,” noted Andrew Duncan, Global Brand Director at Buffalo Trace Distillery. “When it was introduced, Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey brought higher quality standards to whiskey around the world; now, Eagle Rare pushes the bounds of age stating excellence in Bourbon.”

Eagle Rare 12 will be released to select retailers, bars, and restaurants across the United States beginning June 2025 at a suggested retail price of $49.99 per 750ml bottle (local taxes and fees dependent); additional international markets will follow in Fall 2025. The expression joins the Eagle Rare lineup of Eagle Rare 10, Double Eagle Very Rare, Eagle Rare 25 as well as Eagle Rare 17, released each fall as part of the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection.

About Buffalo Trace Distillery

Buffalo Trace Distillery is an American family-owned company based in Frankfort, Kentucky. The Distillery’s rich tradition dates back to 1775 and it is a National Historic Landmark, as well as listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Its history includes such legends as E.H. Taylor, Jr., George T. Stagg, Albert B. Blanton, Orville Schupp, and Elmer T. Lee. Buffalo Trace Distillery is a fully operational Distillery producing bourbon, rye and vodka on site. The Distillery has won more than 40 distillery titles since 2000 and garnered more than 1,000 awards for its wide range of premium whiskies. Its William Larue Weller and Stagg were named Best of Show at the 2024 Denver International Spirits Competition and its Traveller Whiskey is the Most Awarded Super Premium Whiskey Release of 2024. Buffalo Trace Distillery has a deep commitment to supporting charitable initiatives. Nonprofit organizations interested in learning more about the Distillery’s efforts are encouraged to register their charity here. To learn more about Buffalo Trace Distillery, visit www.buffalotracedistillery.com.