Bladnoch Chapter Eleven 35 Year Old, Bourbon Cask, 1990, Decadent Drinks, 54.2%

The drying oak sits a little apart from the buttery, citrus notes.

shortwave.fox8 Jun

The oak seems to sit more at the edges than lead the whole picture: polished furniture on the nose, then drying oak at the finish. That fits the brighter fruit, citrus and buttery notes, though it sounds more like a supporting thread than an oak-led whisky.

Vanilla, pastry, apricot and honey make for a generous sweet opening, but this is not simply a sugar parade. Citrus, grass and deeper spices bring welcome counterweight, while the palate’s waxes and mineral oils add a more savoury edge. The long, lemony finish keeps that balance going, with sweet grass and drying oak rather than an endlessly sugary fade. A layered, warmly appealing character, with enough contrast to keep the sweeter notes interesting.