Review by: zSolaris

Christmas Countdown 2020 #7: Bruichladdich Islay Barley (2011)

Distillery: Bruichladdich

Region: Islay

Age: 6 Year. Distilled in 2011.

ABV: 50.0%.

Cask Type: 75% was aged in first-fill American whiskey casks, 15% was aged in second and third-fill Sauternes and Austrian sweet wine casks, and 10% was aged in first-fill Rivesaltes wine casks.

Price: $65

Color: 1.3, Russet/Muscat.

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Nose: There’s a really funky peat that is somewhere between medicinal and smelling of re-hydrated mushrooms. It’s joined by a lot of lemon. There’s a nice whiff of sea air as well, not the kind you get standing on a clean and sunny beach but the kind you get standing next to a bunch of seaweed or other sea fauna.

Palate: You get a nice sweet cereal up front. It’s actually on the highly sugary side, almost like taking a bite into Frosted Flakes. It’s joined again by lemon. Not a whole lot else going on here, not a lot of change with water added either.

Finish: On the shorter side of things. There’s a bit of that medicinal peat along with some fresh seaweed. .

Conclusion: This was a rather disappointing one from Bruichladdich. They’re usually great at extracting a lot of flavor from young spirit, but this Islay Barley release from 2011 seems to fall quite flat. It’s not bad, but it lacks any form of complexity. It’s purely sugary cereal with a dash of lemon. Perhaps another few years in the barrels would’ve done this a world of good, but as it stands it feels and tastes like a rushed product. Shame. Would I buy another bottle? Not for $65.

Final Score: 74.

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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.