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94
Bruichladdich Legacy 6, 34 year old, 41%, $550
The sixth and last bottling from the Legacy series. Legacy 6 is a marriage of six casks from 1965, 1970, and 1972. Soft and mellow on the nose and palate, with unbelievably restrained oak for such a mature whisky. Delicious notes of coconut, soothing vanilla, caramel custard, and banana cream, peppered with spice notes of cinnamon, mint, and teaberry that emerge on a soft finish that fades out gently. A fitting end to the Legacy series. I’m sad to see them go.
(1st Quarter 2008 Issue-Vol. 17#1)
93
Bruichladdich Legacy III, 35 year old, 1968 vintage, 40.7%, $430
This gem is soft and seductive in personality. It is also very clean and still quite fresh for its age-obviously aged in an excellent cask. You'll find a bed of gentle sweetness, reminding me of coconut cream and vanilla mousse. A mélange of fruit (melon, black raspberries, strawberries) marries perfectly with the sweetness. Fresh brine notes and licorice root emerge on the palate and become more prominent towards the finish. This Legacy III is more polished and rounded, and not as tired or woody when compared to the recent 40 year old bottling. And the 40 year old, at $2,200 a pop, is also about five times more expensive.
(3rd Quarter 2005 Issue-Vol. 14#3)
92 Bruichladdich “PC-5”, 63.5%, $120
This is a five year old expression of the more highly peated Bruichladdich whisky being referred to as Port Charlotte (named after the now-silent distillery down the road from Bruichladdich). More highly peated indeed. If you like your smoky Islay whiskies young and masculine, this one is for you. It’s like sticking your head in a peat-fired kiln. But there’s more to this whisky than massive smoke. There are underlying notes of kippers, soot, and tar. With further investigation, there are spice notes of black pepper and black licorice stick. What really makes this whisky multi-dimensional and balanced is its sweet underbelly of thick toffee, jammy fruit, and almond butter. Youthful, but not immature.
(3rd Quarter 2007 Issue-Vol. 16#3)
90
Bruichladdich 15 year old, 2nd Edition, 46%, $80
Finished in Chateau d’Yquem casks, and it shows. There’s a creamy, honeyed sweetness and viscosity to this whisky that is very soothing. Bruichladdich’s brisk sea character cuts through the lightly syrup-like thickness and keeps the whisky fresh and lively, while notes of golden raisin, peaches, lemon gum drops, vanilla, and coconut add complexity. Satisfying salty/sweet finish.
(3rd Quarter 2006 Issue-Vol. 15#3)
90
Bruichladdich 3D, The Big Peat, 50%, $65
A marriage of Bruichladdich with three different peating levels. Devotees of young, smoky Islay whiskies will enjoy this one. It is youthful and explosive, with earthy peat smoke, fish nets, brine, and kiln ash. All this is tamed beautifully by notes of vanilla wafer, seductive malt, marshmallow, spiced peaches, and pear.
(3rd Quarter 2006 Issue-Vol. 15#3)
90
Bruichladdich 1973 vintage, 40.2% ABV, $285
This one is my favorite of the four distillery-bottled Bruichladdich whiskies reviewed here. It still quite lively and nicely balanced for such a mature whisky (and reminiscent of the previous 1970 vintage in this respect), with some floral notes and brine emerging from its fruity, vanilla, truffle, nougat foundation. Still, it maintains an air of lightness and freshness throughout, with a pleasingly dry, subtly spicy finish that lingers.
(3rd Quarter 2004 Issue-Vol. 13#3)
90
Duncan Taylor (distilled at Bruichladdich), 34 year old, 1969 Vintage, 46%, $234
An unusual, but very fine, Bruichladdich, with sweet, chewy toffee notes I often associate with Speyside whiskies, not Islay (although I have tasted a few older Bunnahabhain whiskies that were like this). Layers of marzipan and chocolate fudge also emerge, and I even pick up some apple and black cherry fruit in the background. Bruichladdich's "sea breeze" freshness rises through the chewy sweetness and provides balance and complexity.
(4th Quarter 2005 Issue-Vol. 14#4)
89
Scott's Selection (distilled at Bruichladdich), 14 year old, 1990 Vintage, 58.1%, $110
An excellent example of a younger Bruichladdich, and an interesting contrast to the Duncan Taylor expression reviewed above. Appetizing and very clean with a creamy texture. Honey and vanilla notes accentuate a fresh maltiness, with underlying marshmallow, grass and hay. The whisky finishes nicely rounded, pleasingly dry and salty, with a hint of seaweed. A great aperitif.
(4th Quarter 2005 Issue-Vol. 14#4)
87
Bruichladdich Infinity, 55.5%, $80
Aged in a sherry cask, and the sherry is clean and bright. I’m also picking up a good dose of warming peat smoke, along with molasses, and a gentle maltiness throughout. A peppering of subtle brine and a hint of seaweed peak through occasionally, reminding one of its Islay roots.
(3rd Quarter 2006 Issue-Vol. 15#3)
87
Murray McDavid (distilled at Bruichladdich, 1986, 15 year old, 46%)
Bright gold color. Fresh, appetizing aroma of vanilla malt, honey, brine, and subtle tropical fruit. Light to medium in body and slightly oily in texture. Delicious, fresh, subtly complex flavors of vanilla malt, sea salt, subtle tropical fruit, and fresh herbs, finishing dry and lightly spicy.
Style: Islay single malt Scotch whisky. Price: high $70s. Available nationwide (imported by Vin DiVino, 773/334-6700).
Since the owners of Murray McDavid also control the Bruichladdich distillery, one would expect a good bottling. This is a good one indeed, and very exciting to drink. It is nicely matured, fresh, and deliciously appetizing-almost mouth-watering.
(2nd Quarter 2003 Issue-Vol. 12#2)
84
Bruichladdich WMD II, 46%, $75
Aged in bourbon casks and then enhanced in Rioja wine casks. A mélange of red berry fruits, firm malt, thick vanilla and spicy oak, along with a hint of grape skin, anise, and orange peel. Gritty, dry finish.
(3rd Quarter 2006 Issue-Vol. 15#3)
84
Bruichladdich Links, 14 year old, 46% ABV, $75
Aged in refill sherry casks. One taste bears this out with its dominant honeyed fruit foundation (lemons, melons, pineapple). Still, that Bruichladdich freshness and appetizing "sea breeze" character dovetails nicely. Fuller, more rounded, and with a bit more going on here than the Full Strength expression reviewed below, but not as appetizing.
(3rd Quarter 2004 Issue-Vol. 13#3)
84
Bruichladdich Full Strength, 1989 vintage, 13 years old, 57.1 ABV %, $90
Aged in used bourbon barrels. A fresh, appetizing whisky of brine and white pepper, with an underlying foundation of vanilla, barley, and grassy/hay-like notes. A very subtle teasing of citrus lingers throughout. Very clean and straight-forward, with an appetizing finish. A whisky aperitif?
(3rd Quarter 2004 Issue-Vol. 13#3)
84
Gordon & MacPhail Single Cask #1961 (distilled at Bruichladdich) 1989 Vintage, 57.9% ABV, $65-80
It is unusual to find a Bruichladdich whisky with this much sherry influence-this one is aged in a refill sherry hogshead. I must admit that I generally like a less sherried Bruichladdich-it makes it easier to appreciate the distillery's subtle complexities. While there certainly is more than enough sherry to go around in this whisky, the distillery character does manage to fight its way through. This whisky's strong point is that the sherry influence is clean and not insipid like some sherried whiskies. Chewy caramel, toffee, and ripe fruit notes are most evident in this whisky, with Bruichladdich's signature-an appetizing fresh briny character-emerging midway on the palate through to the finish. If you like Bruichladdich and you appreciate a cleanly sherried whisky, then I think you'll enjoy this one.
(2nd Quarter 2004 Issue-Vol. 13#2)
83
Bruichladdich 20 year old, 3rd Edition, 46%, $170
Finished in Madeira casks. An interesting contrast to the 15 year old. This one is more challenging than soothing (and quite dry too—especially on the palate), with dominant red fruit (currant, raspberry, strawberry), plum, baked cinnamon apple, polished leather, bourbon, almonds, and just the hint of smoke and brine. Dry, resinous finish. An intense Laddie.
(3rd Quarter 2006 Issue-Vol. 15#3)
83
Bruichladdich 20 year old "Second Edition", 46%, $170
A departure from the first edition of Bruichladdich 20 year old, and very Glenmorangie-esque-given that it was aged for five weeks in Mourvedre wine casks before being bottled. The wine influence is evident, both in appearance (a pinkish hue), its palate (berry fruits), and even its nickname ("flirtation"). It is quite a sweet Bruichladdich, with chewy toffee, ripe berries, background pit fruits, and earthy/ resinous spicy notes-especially on the finish. A Bruichladdich fresh Islay sea breeze character fights its way through, but it is a struggle.
(3rd Quarter 2005 Issue-Vol. 14#3)
83 Blackadder “Raw Cask” (distilled at Bruichladdich), Cask #841, 1986 vintage, 54.4%, $180
A very fruity “Laddie,” flowing with tangerine, apricot, pineapple and pear. Background notes of honey, vanilla, and a wisp of smoke. The typical Bruichladdich fresh, appetizing, brine notes are restrained, emerging ever so subtly on the finish. Nicely rounded and clean throughout.
(3rd Quarter 2007 Issue-Vol. 16#3)
82
Bruichladdich Legacy Two, 1965 vintage, 41.8 ABV %, $465
Aged half in used bourbon barrels, half in refill sherry casks. Thicker, more viscous, and with much more depth than the other three Bruichladdichs reviewed here. The whisky oozes syrupy vanilla, marshmallow, caramel, and marzipan, accentuated by coconut and other tropical fruits. Bruichladdich's signature freshness and brine emerges, but oh, so subtly. It finishes firmly dry and oaky, thanks to all those years in wood. Initially this helps to cut some of the sweetish viscosity of this whisky, but it lingers a bit too long for my palate. I would like to have tried this whisky a few (or perhaps even several) years back.
(3rd Quarter 2004 Issue-Vol. 13#3)
81
Bruichladdich, 18 year old, 1986 vintage, 57.5%, $140
Its color suggests sherry cask influence, and its aroma confirms. The initial impact on the palate is lush fruit, followed by a clean honeyed malt foundation. Toffee and nuts emerge, with that satisfying Bruichladdich freshness and brine kicking in on the finish, providing some balance for the somewhat waxy, sherried sweetness. (A Park Avenue Liquors exclusive.)
(3rd Quarter 2006 Issue-Vol. 15#3)
79
Bruichladdich, 16 year old, 1989 vintage, 50%, $80
Aged in bourbon oak and then finished in Guigal Hermitage Rouge Syrah wine casks. Bright notes of red raspberry, rhubarb, currant, plum, and (not surprisingly) grape, with background notes of vanilla and caramel. I find the syrah notes entertaining on the nose, but too dominant on the palate for balance. The fruit becomes waxy and hides a lot of Bruichladdich subtle complexities. (Bottled exclusively for The Party Source.)
(1st Quarter 2007 Issue-Vol. 16#1)
78
Bruichladdich Rocks, 46%, $n/a
Aged in bourbon and Grenache red wine casks. Youthful, with green grape fruit and a syrupy sweetness. A straightforward whisky. Not overly complex or long on the finish, nor was it intended to be. As its name suggests, it was made to be consumed on the rocks. If you’re going to drink a Bruichladdich neat, try one of the others reviewed above. (Not yet available in the U.S.)
(3rd Quarter 2006 Issue-Vol. 15#3)
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