Riding the Whisky Curl: Bladnoch’s Wave II Makes a Splash and Then Some.

Before we dive headfirst into the luscious swell of Wave II, let’s set the stage: Bladnoch is no ordinary distillery. Tucked into the lush folds of Scotland’s Lowlands, Bladnoch is the grande dame of independent distilleries - founded in 1817 and still fiercely free-spirited, like a classically trained composer who flat-out refuses to write elevator music. With over two centuries under its belt and not a corporate leash in sight, Bladnoch doesn’t just march to its own drum - it distils it. Known as the Queen of the Lowlands, Bladnoch has made a name for itself crafting distinctly floral, fruit-forward single malts with a bold sense of place. Where other distilleries chase peat smoke and brute strength, Bladnoch refines - favouring elegance, character, and a relentless curiosity about what whisky can be. Under the stewardship of Master Distiller Dr Nick Savage (yes, that’s his real name, and yes, he lives up to it), Bladnoch has leaned hard into innovation, releasing limited-edition collections that aren't just collectible - they’re practically intellectual. This is a distillery with heritage in its bones and mischief in its method.

Some whiskies walk into the room with a nod and a tartan. Wave II: Distillery & Spirit struts in wearing sun-ripened fruit, a sly grin, and the kind of attitude that says: “You’re not ready, but here we go anyway.”

This is the second swell in Bladnoch’s five-part Master Distiller’s Collection - a project less “limited edition” and more “slow-burn masterpiece.” Think of it as whisky-making meets concept album. Each release riffs on one of the five whisky-making pillars, but they’re not just playing solos. They’re building a symphony - year by year, tun by tun, bottle by brilliant bottle.

Wave II? It’s all about the soul of the distillery. No costumes, no stage effects - just the raw, juicy character of the Lowlands spirit, turned up to 57% ABV and dressed in its finest fruit-forward ensemble.

Let’s talk tasting notes. Because this is where things get a little flirty.

Serving fruit, fire, and 57% finesse - Wave II didn’t come to sit quietly on your shelf.

On the nose, Wave II comes in like the cheeky cousin of a summer picnic. Pear drops take the lead - yes, those nostalgic little sweets that smell like your childhood just discovered perfume.

Then comes a wave of barley that smells like it’s been sunbathing in Galloway fields, warm and golden, with a whisper of wildflowers hanging on the breeze. You don’t sniff this whisky; it practically winks at you from the glass.

Take a sip, and boom - pineapple. But not just any pineapple. We’re talking baked, caramelised, still sizzling from the oven like it’s about to guest-star on a tropical upside-down cake.

Before you can catch your breath, along come ginger snaps. Crunchy, spiced, with just enough bite to remind you that this isn’t dessert - it’s a spirited debate between sweet and spice, and your tongue is the moderator.

The finish? It doesn’t walk away - it lingers like a guest who knows they’re charming enough to overstay their welcome. It’s floral, like jasmine at dusk, fresh like mint just muddled, and tinged with that ginger warmth that says, “See you tomorrow... or maybe never. But you’ll think of me.”

Now, about the structure: this isn’t whisky on shuffle. Bladnoch’s playing a long game here. Five Amontillado sherry tuns. Five years. Each wave carries a whisper of the last. Picture a whisky relay race, but instead of batons, it’s layers of cask character being handed off - re-charred butts, ex-Bourbon barrels, sherry-soaked dreams. It’s a wave that builds, barrels forward, and eventually crashes in a fifth release said to feature components of every prior edition. It’s whisky evolution by design, with a wink to the future and a foot planted firmly in 1817.

And let’s not forget, this isn’t Bladnoch’s first dramatic entrance. Their Waterfall series already proved they can pull off limited editions with elegance and edge. But The Wave? This is something else. It’s philosophy in liquid form - about how whisky doesn’t just age, it listens. It absorbs. And if it’s made right, it remembers.

With only 1,817 bottles hitting the shelves (a cheeky nod to Bladnoch’s founding year, because of course), this is less a purchase and more a heist. Because once it’s gone, it's gone. And trust us, you will be that person talking about “that one bottle” years from now while your friends stare blankly, sipping lesser things.

So go ahead. Add to basket. Just know what you’re buying isn’t just a whisky. It’s a story—told in fruit, fire, and finesse. And if your drinks trolley happens to glow a little brighter afterward? Don’t be surprised. The Wave doesn’t knock. It crashes.

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Words by AW.

Photo courtesy of Bladnoch.