Bruichladdich Black Art 1992 9.1 Edition 29 Year

Had it over the weekend. This was really incredible - took a little while to open up, but what started as a nose slightly similar to Red Breast 27 (candied peach) turns into a complex experience, led by fig and nuts and followed by a touch of sweetness in the long finish. If this isn’t the best whisky I’ve ever had, it’s certainly close.

Nose - Beautiful mix of fresh & dried apples, grilled pineapple, golden raisins, strawberries, caramel, honey Taste - Light lactic funk, saline, apple custard creaminess, lightly bitter apple skin/stem/core, light dried tropical fruit vibes, orange creamsicle, fruity/acidic coffee/espresso, lightly effervescent, almost like a less sweet orange Fanta Finish - Gentle warmth, creamy mouthfeel, light tropical fruit "funk", gentle salt Score - 92/100 Final Thoughts - So Adam Hannett continues to improve on his previous Black Art releases with this one. Beautiful nose on this one and it feels like a mix of multiple different casks. Nice and fruity, but also nice notes of caramel from what I'm guessing are ex-Bourbon to hold this back from being too sherry & wine cask forward. Beautiful balance of flavors, but somehow there is this bit of bitter apple peel/core that gets a bit too distracting. I think it wouldn't have been too bad if there was more sweetness to it, but a lot of flavors are competing against each other in this one and the bitterness is a bit too much for the subtle flavors. I think I'm being a bit too critical here as it really is put together quite well, but it is a bit distracting for what's there. Would I drink it if offered? - Yes Would I specifically order it? - Yes Would I buy a bottle? - Maybe, but only if I could find it for ~$300 NOTE - All reviews are done without factoring in price.

Love the rich flavor without being overly spicy, the flavor just lasts. I will say that the flavors are a lot to sort out but without spending too much time worrying about each taste the overall profile is just delicious.

Unmatched

Truly beautiful. Stewed red fruits, apricot. Silkiest of mouthfeel. Effervescent tropical glowing finish. You will enjoy this whisky. There is no doubt

I'm lucky enough to have been blessed with a bottle of this magic russet colour liquid on the day of release from the distillery. Different in its colour to my bottle of Back Arts 6.1, which is sadly nearly done - this new edition is equally as special if not more so, as it's been made with Bruichladdich's rarest 1% of pre modern era whisky stocks coming from prior to the closure in 1994 "I don,t think we will see another Black Art like this one!" Nose – Simply stunning. Tropical fruit, coconut, tobacco, oak spices and toasted pine needles weave an intricate web of aromas. With a bit of time, this beautiful whisky opens up to waves of mango, honey-drizzled melon, warm orange zest, grilled pineapple and ripe summer strawberries. It’s mouth-wateringly succulent and fruity – the gentle oak offering coconut, ginger, buttery shortbread, vanilla custard and hints of tobacco. Palate – The viscosity and depth to this dram are out of this world; the oak notes of tobacco and brown sugar, chocolate and coconut provide the base for all those wonderful fruit combinations to shine. A drop of water and a second sip further explore the woven layers of this remarkable whisky. Finish – The succulent fruit sweetness lasts for an age on the palate, apricot, mango and baked banana, toasted sweet oak, honey and vanilla – you just don’t want it to end. For me; this is just about the perfect whiskey if there ever was such a thing - truly stunning!!!!