Bladnoch – Samsara (70cl, 46.7%)

Bladnoch Samsara is a Lowland single malt, bottled at 46.7% in a 70cl bottle. It was the first release of the distillery's modern revival, and its name is the Sanskrit word for rebirth or cycle. It is made from ex-bourbon and ex-Californian red wine casks, blended under Dr Nick Savage, and is non-chill filtered and bottled at natural colour. The nose offers ripe plums, orange peel and red apple with vanilla, honey and polished oak. On the palate come apricot, vanilla cream and subtle spice, with raisins and cocoa from the sherry influence. The finish is long, with sweet fruit and oak spice fading to caramel and citrus.