Tasting 6 Bruichladdichs

Not my last tasting of Bruichladdich, but perhaps the last one of low to noen peat level. A very interesting session where old meets new and many varieties of aging is in the mix.








Bruichladdich NAS 42.9% OB

A strange strength for a standard bottling, anyone knows what the number 4980 on the right bottom of the label means? Whiskybase.com states this as a 10yo. What I do know is that this whisky is enjoyed at least two decades after bottling. The color is golden. It smells of peat, barley, malty, smoky, seaweed, fish eggs, fish oil, peppery, gravel, dust, salty, old leather and rubber, but not like sherry-rubber. This is superb thus far, would stand up to just about any other old Islayer. The taste is sweet, onions, leather, tobacco, licorice, peat, very easy and one-dimensional, contrary to the nose. The finish is soapy, bitter, almonds, not very good. But the nose was outstanding.

Hard to make up my mind, one you gotta try if opportunity presented: 6


Bruichladdich NAS 46% OB Sherry Classic

One from Fernando De Castilla sherry casks. Should make for an interesting Bruichladdich. I guess they've had their hist and misses with their wine treatments. This one is called "fusion" which I think is a hint on the fact that this is matured in two kinds of wood. FDC sherry and bourbon casks. The color is amber honey. It smells of sweet sherry notes, cinnamon, turmeric, honey, rum, vanilla, oranges, dark grapes, blueberries, blackberries, a really nice one. The taste is sweet, licorice, cactus, bitter, wet sand, plastic, rubber, wool, tarragon, yeast. Not very pleasant, but once again, the nose was rather superb.

I'm struggling a bit here again, or I just don't care for the sherry finish: 5


Bruichladdich 22yo 1984-2007 50.4% OB Redder Still

The name indicates this might be some sort of sherry casked whisky? The color is, deep orange, or as you might suggest, nearly red. It smells of red wine, tannins, licorice, honey, bittersweet, licorice liqueur, butter, garlic, very good one. Lets hope its not another good nose with a lesser palate and finish. The taste is sweet, honey, peppery, wheat biscuits, onions, reminds me of Longmorn, actually. A full on sherried whisky with an earthy and humble flavor. The finish is apple vinegar and spirity notes, dry white wine, a bit foul on the finish, otherwise excellent!

A good idea to name the bottling after the color of the whisky: 6.5


Bruichladdich 20yo 1986-2006 50.7% OB Blacker Still

If the redder still wasn't enough, this on should at least, give stronger hints to a sherried whisky. The color is dark red/brown. Off course, the only black whisky that ever was was the Loch Dhu, and we surely won't need a remake of that. By the way, we got one in Cu Dhub, which is mostly already off the market. It smells of sweet cinnamon, honey, hay, oranges, leather, drying, butter, oregano, tannins, dry winey notes, sulphur, grape seeds. The taste is sweet, cinnamon, honey, vanilla, oloroso sherry, cedar wood, oaky, pickled cucumber, pickle juice, vinegar, caramel. The finish is gunpowder, peppery and papery notes.

Great stuff, a real sherry monster: 7


Bruichladdich 23yo 1994-2008 51% OB Golder Still

One that might come from mostly bourbon casks. Or all bourbon. The color is amber. Not golden, but golden could be so much these days. It smells of sweet, vanilla, aniseed, eucalyptus, cinnamon, burnt, oaky, honey, this is very good bourbony notes so far in my opinion. It tastes of sweet white wine, sauternes, butter, garlic, oranges, grassy, burnt butter, honey, mustard, cumin seeds, apple vinegar, this is a fantastic whisky, bourbon matured whisky at its finest.

Another very fine Bruichladdich: 7.5


Bruichladdich 24yo 1988-2012 54.3% Malts of Scotland for Islay Whisky Dinner 2012 cask#12040

from a sherry hogshead. Maybe the fourth sherried laddie in this session. Maybe not so representable for the distillery's current whiskies which often is driven by other wine casks. The color is amber. It smells of peat, salty, damp, molasses, moss, tarry, smoky, peppery, cod liver, burnt oak, bonfire, butter. The taste is leather, peppery, butter, raw onions, garlic, spicy, chili, wheat. Needs a bit of water. Now it turns sweeter, cumin, cinnamon, licorice, bitter. pretty nice one, even if not a typical Bruichladdich, but what are these days? One for the complexity chasers.

I love this rougher side of Bruichladdich: 7



Next tasting: Port Charlotte