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Bruichladdich
 scrapes in
 decent
 good
 excellent
 sublime
Bruichladdich, 125th Anniversary (Scotland) 
Bottled to celebrate Bruichladdich’s 125th anniversary, this expression is 35 years old, and contains spirit distilled in 1970, “the best Bruichladdich ever,” according to the distillery’s Lynn McEwan. Matured in Alsace Pinot Grigot casks, considered to be some of the finest in the world, only 2,500 bottles have been released onto the market.
The nose is fruity, with peaches to the fore, and Bruichladdich’s characteristic fresh, zestiness is never far from the surface. Slightly smokier, darker notes develop with time. Stewed fruit, barley and ginger dominate the palate, which dries steadily with distinctly winey and spicey tones.
40.1% ABV, 70cl, £300, distillery website, specialist whisky merchants. |  |
Bruichladdich, 15-Year-Old (Scotland)
A nose of honey and just a touch of brine. Quite reserved. The brine develops considerably on the palate, along with notes of malt and even pepper to augment the condiments’ set. The finish is gentle and slightly oily. One to sample alongside Laphroaig for anyone who talks about a generic Islay style! 46.0% ABV, 70cl, £32, specialist whisky merchants.  |  |
Bruichladdich, 18-year-old (Scotland)
As reported in August’s ‘Whisky News,’ Bruichladdich has just added an 18-year-old expression to its core range. This lightly-peated whisky spent 18 years maturing in ex-Bourbon casks before being finished in red pinot wine casks.
The result is a malt that should appeal to lovers of Sherried whiskies, since the effect of the finishing process has been to give the whisky increased richness and complexity. Warm, sweet and slightly spicy on the nose, with a hint of rum and raisins. Full bodied in the mouth, quite viscous and smooth, with sweet Sherry, vanilla fudge, red wine and brittle toffee. Decidedly spicy in the finish.
Bruichladdich dislikes the use of the term ‘finishing,’ preferring ‘additional cask evolution,’ but whatever you call it, this new addition to the distillery’s line up proves that when done well, the process can give a whisky a very attractive new dimension, without detracting from its original integrity.
46.0% ABV, 70cl, £54.99, specialist whisky merchants. |  |
Bruichladdich, 3D Second Edition (Scotland)
Following the success of the limited release ‘First Edition’ of 3D, Bruichladdich has produced this Second Edition, marketed as Mòine Mhòr (Gaelic for ‘The Big Peat’). Once again, whiskies have been selected from three decades and with three different peating levels, but this time around the peat is more assertive, giving distinct smoky, bonfire notes above the characteristic Bruichladdich subtlety and zest. Peat reek, but no medicinal flavours. A Bruichladdich for peat freaks who appreciate finesse. 50.0% ABV, 70cl, £34.99, distillery website, specialist whisky merchants. |  |
Bruichladdich, 3D3 (Scotland)
Also from Islay, the latest heavily peated offering from Jim MacEwan and the ‘Laddie’ team pays tribute to the legendary Norrie Campbell, Islay’s last traditional peat cutter, who died in 2006. 3D3 follows its two predecessors by embracing whiskies of three vintages with three different peating levels, and the most heavily peated whisky in the world, Octomore, makes its first public appearance in this expression. 3D3 contains whisky from both ex-Sherry and ex-Bourbon casks, with the Sherry wood giving nuttiness, while the American oak provides toffee and creme brulee characteristics. Firstly, however, you have to get past the peat, in a whisky described by MacEwan as “a Hebridean fireball.”
Extremely peaty on the initial nose, much more so than editions one and two, probably thanks to the youthful exuberance of the Octomore, but with welcome fresh notes of apples and herbs, too. Obviously peaty in the mouth, but not as overwhelming as might be expected, with spices, pepper and an attractive ‘earthy’ quality rounding out the palate experience. The very lengthy finish is dominated by peat, coal tar and pepper. A drop of water helps to open up some of the nutty and toffee notes supplied by the casks. Jim MacEwan’s summary of “Potent, but not aggressive,” seems spot on. If you enjoy ‘in your face’ whiskies this is not to be missed.
46.0% ABV, 70cl, £34.95, distillery website, specialist whisky merchants. |  |
Bruichladdich, Blacker Still (Scotland)
Following on from last month’s review of Bruichladdich’s new PC5, we have selected another two ‘Laddie’ bottlings from their latest batch of eight new releases. Blacker Still takes its name from the apparently common expression among old distillery workers, “The blacker the still the better the whisky.” This bottling may not be black but it is certainly dark in colour, betraying the fact that it was exclusively matured in Sherry casks, filled in 1986. Just 2,500 bottles have been released worldwide.
The early nose is comparatively sweet, with big wafts of Sherry and leather, followed by Sherry, cough drops and subtle spices on the palate. Toffee and liquorice characterise the long, stylish finish. A fascinating Bruichladdich for the Sherry Head.
50.7% ABV, 70cl, £100, distillery website, specialist whisky merchants. |  |
Bruichladdich, Peat (Scotland)
‘Peat’ has been created to showcase the unique, heavily peated Bruichladdich style, where the heavier sea iodine flavours that can dominate other Islay peated whiskies is subdued and made more elegant by the distillery’s Victorian long-necked stills.
The lively, zesty, lemony ‘core’ characteristics of Bruichladdich interact nicely with powerful, sweet peat notes on the nose. The palate yields a lovely balance of sweet, spicy pears and vanilla with peat which lacks the medicinal notes usually associated with Islay. The medium-length finish offers slightly peppery peat, meshed with drying oak.
“Peat does what it says on the tin,” declares Mark Reynier. “It replaces the 3D range, and has been toned down a bit, with an average peatiness of around 35ppm. Plenty of peat but without the medicine.”
46.0% ABV, 70cl, £30.00, distillery website. |  |
Bruichladdich, Port Charlotte PC5 (Scotland)
PC5 is the first release of Port Charlotte single malt whisky, produced on Islay by Bruichladdich. Peated to 40ppm, this is one of the most heavily peated whiskies distilled on the island, and is in contrast to the usually lightly peated Bruichladdich make.
PC5 is the first expression to have been distilled since Bruichladdich reopened in 2001, and, according to master distiller Jim McEwan: “From records we know that Bruichladdich spirit was influenced by peat - to some degree at least - before 1961. And, at the same time, this is paying homage, a doffing of the cap, to the old Port Charlotte distillery two miles down the road that closed owing to Prohibition in 1929.”
Just 6,000 bottles of the new PC5 have been released, and it offers a nose of uncompromising smoke, with a slightly medicinal quality when diluted. Sweeter notes also come through with the addition of water. Persistent, yet refined, smoke on the palate, while fruit and oak notes also develop, along with a touch of treacle. The finish is long, and, yes, you’ve guessed, smoky! Overall, this is very well mannered for such a young whisky. Nothing grabs you by the throat. Likely to become a cult classic. 63.5% ABV, 70cl, £55.00, specialist whisky merchants. |  |
Bruichladdich, Rocks (Scotland)
For the first expression in Bruichladdich’s new Multi-Vintage Trilogy, master distiller Jim McEwan selected casks of varying ages and allowed the whisky in them an additional period of maturation in casks that had previously held French red wine.
The nose is very fresh, slightly floral and spicy, with pineapple and coconut. Big and fruity in the mouth, with sweet, eating apples, vanilla and mulled wine notes. The finish is long and toffee-like, with mild oak.
According to Mark Reynier, “Rocks is the classic aperitif cuvée - minimal peat, so deliciously fresh and fruity - with a surprisingly sophisticated flavour profile thanks to the French oak cask influences.”
46.0% ABV, 70cl, £24.00, distillery website. |  |
Bruichladdich, Waves (Scotland)
For ‘Waves’ Jim McEwan has reduced the peating level by comparison with its predecessor, and blended together various ages of whisky from ex-Bourbon and ex-Madeira casks.
Fresh and lively on the nose, with enticing spices, tropical fruits and a background whiff of smoke. Rich, full-bodied and mouth-coating, with stewed fruits, dates and even a sprig of mint on the palate, plus emerging notes of sweet peat. The finish is medium to long, with spicy, gentle peat notes.
Mark Reynier says “Waves is mildly peaty at around 15ppm, beguilingly elegant with oodles of Bruichladdich finesse and fruit. A real anytime of day dram.”
46.0% ABV, 70cl, £30.00, distillery website. |  |
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