Review by: ZoidbergOnTheRocks
Somehow I haven’t reviewed any Bruichladdich yet. Crazy, I know. Well, let’s get the ball rolling with two middle-aged OB’s from the past.
Tasted on 10/19/2020, neat in a Glencairn.
Looks like this was a standard expression for a little while in 2012-2013. Nothing fancy here, just some well-aged Laddie in a glass. Sample from Throwboats.
Distillery: Bruichladdich
Bottler: Distillery Bottling
Region: Scotland, Islay
ABV: 46.0%
Age: 16 years old. Bottled on 04/04/2013.
Natural color. Non-chill-filtered.
Nose: honey, vanilla, fruity w/ tangerines, pears, cantaloupe, a bit of sea spray. Very bright and fresh.
Taste: fruity more on tangerines, honey, vanilla, oak, light pepper, a bit of salty seawater, medium mouthfeel.
Finish: honey, fruity, very mild pepper, seawater, green tea, medium length, tails off a bit oaky and bitter.
This is bright and fresh, with citrus and melons, some sweet honey and some nice sea notes. Nice mouthfeel, consistent finish that is a nice length. Fairly simple and straightforward, but it works very well for what it is. It does trail off to some oaky/tannic bitterness, which is a bit of a let down after the rest of it. Still, quite a nice dram and I’d be happy to own a bottle of this were it easily obtainable.
Final Score: 82.
This is a sample from Throwboats.
Distillery: Bruichladdich
Bottler: Distillery Bottling
Region: Scotland, Islay
ABV: 46.0%
Age: 21 years old. Bottled on 03/18/2009.
Cask type: Oloroso Sherry Casks
Natural color. Non-chill-filtered.
Nose: sherry, dates, raisins, gunpowder, liquorice, damp earth, dark toffee, sea spray, pralines, light machine oil, maybe a touch of melon under there. Rich and nice complexity.
Taste: sherry, dried fruits (orange peel, raisins, etc.), black liquorice, damp earthy funk, a little dry, chocolate covered toffee, seawater (quite salty actually), some pepper, oil, a bit of tar, medium-thick mouthfeel. Is there a hint of peat smoke in here? Big and rich.
Finish: rich sweet sherry, salty seawater, quite a bit of pepper, damp earth, fairly long, walnuts or hazelnuts, a bit of cocoa. Is there some peat smoke in here as well? Seems like a nice whif behind it all. Ends on those sherry notes w/ salted nuts.
Very sherried, that’s for sure, and quite spicy in places. Feels big, rich, and thick across the board. A reasonably complex dram that gives a lot to consider. Balance is interesting: it’s got a big sherry influence and it dominates this, squashing those nice brighter fruits I get off the 16. I feel like I have to dig past the sherry for most of the notes. If you don’t dig sherry then this won’t be for you. Overall an excellent Bruichladdich.
Final Score: 92.
Comparison
Order: 21 > 16
These two are pretty different, very different casks, and I can imagine someone not into sherry picking the opposite order. Still, the richness and complexity of the 21 wins out here easily for me.
It’s distilleries like Bruichladdich that make me appreciate the honest treatment of the spirit. Both of these have excellent mouthfeel, and you can appreciate the color and get a feel for the cask influence.
Scoring Legend:
- 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky.
- 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category.
- 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram.
- 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff.
- 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting.
- 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better.
- 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink.
- 50-59: Save it for mixing.
- 0-49: Blech.
Malt Runners 