Review by: Whiskery Turnip
Distillery: Bruichladdich.
Bottler: The Cask Whisperer.
Region: Scotland/Islay Single Malt.
ABV: 55.2%. Cask Strength.
Age: 15 Years. Distilled in 2003. Bottled in 2019.
Cask type: Sherry Cask.
Nose: Bins of dried fruits— apricots, kiwis, and dates— matched up with sea asparagus and sea buckthorn for a concentrated fruity, tangy, salty aroma; mellow earth and dried grass in the background with a touch of meaty sulfur.
Palate: Medium-bodied, oily, concentrated fruits over earth, sea, and dried grass; sea buckthorn, apricot, and plums popped with sea asparagus, earthy cured mushroom, and hints of roasted seaweed; a touch of blow-torched Shoyu and white miso emerged from some slightly sulfurous cask funk.
Finish: Medium to long and meaty with earth and a kiss of salt.
Mental Image: Vegan Omakase Experience.
Conclusion: This might have been my favorite Cask Whisperer release so far, at least of the ones I have tried, which included casks of Port Charlotte and Bruichladdich; I still have a few Octomore and a Lochindaal to get to.
I loved this whisky’s balanced and well-integrated flavors and the slightly dirty sulfur-earth that lurked in the background. Initially quite fruity, a bit of sherry funk always lingered, gradually pulling the aroma toward earth and grass. Those notes were more prevalent on the palate and kept the profile from feeling one-note, overly cask-driven, or too sweet. Unpeated Bruichladdich may not be my favorite style produced at the distillery, but it worked beautifully with the cask in this instance.
Overall, a fine dram that left me imagining a vegan omakase— perhaps because someone was telling me about their delicious experience. I imagined mushrooms and sea asparagus meeting over torched rice and a slightly fruity glaze… I have no idea if that is accurate, but the whisky left me craving mushrooms.
Final Score: 84.
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 