Bruichladdich 21 Year (1968)

Review by: zSolaris

Distillery: Bruichladdich.

Region: Islay.

Age: 21 year. Distilled in 1968 and bottled in 1990.

ABV: 43.0%

Price: Many thanks to /u/KissMeElon for sharing this with me and to /u/throwboats, whose bottle this originally came from (his review is here).

Color: 1.1, Burnished.

Nose: It’s quite fruity! Grapes and citrus are what come to mind the most, though there are a number of other fruits that I couldn’t quite pick out. A nice, big helping of malt barley comes through as well.

Palate: Sweet and very dessert-like. There’s a rich chocolate pie that comes through strongly. It’s complete with creamy dark chocolate, a hint of whipped cream, and a little bit of pie crust. That’s served alongside with caramel cream candies and a little bit of butterscotch. The dark chocolate notes seem to keep things in balance, keeping it from getting too sweet.

Finish: Medium in length. The chocolate pie note continues on quite strongly. Butterscotch and caramel come along as well.

Conclusion: It isn’t every day that you come across pre-shutdown Bruichladdich, much less one from the 1960s. For being decades and several owners apart, this historical Laddie shares the penchant for delivering a ton of flavor like it does in modern times. The nose doesn’t give away any of what you’re about to try. The first sip delivers a massive helping of really delicious chocolate pie that’s supported by more dessert treats of caramel cream and butterscotch. That lasts continuously into the finish and lingers for a little bit. It’s quite a treat and I’m very grateful to have been able to try this!

Final Score: 88.

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.

Published by zSolaris

Unknown's avatar

Home is where the corn is! Or at least that's what I told the wife before moving her from sunny Southern California to the Midwest anyway. She doesn't share my love of scotch, the drink, but has been incredibly supportive of my little wander down the rabbit hole. We do both share a love of Scotch, our dog, though (she named him, I swear!). He's the cutie in the profile pic.

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