Bruichladdich Islay Barley 2009

Can not go wrong with Bruichladdich’s Islay Barley series. Planning to do a blind tasting of the ‘07, ‘09 and ‘10 shortly. Wouldn’t say Islay Barleys or Classic Laddies are the best options for beginners - younger whiskies so they can be a little spiky upon opening and require some patience (air time in bottle, time in glass, tiny bit of water) to reach their full potential but, when they do, they’re stunningly beautiful. I went through long phases of drinking heavily peated, sherried and cask strength whiskies (including a lot of the Port Charlotte experimental bottlings) - these are not any of those things. They’re more stripped down and spirit driven. It’s like listening to your favorite band’s acoustic album - a new experience grounded in something you already know you love. I’m digging this style of whisky a lot right now.

Bruichladdich Islay Barley 50% abv, Non Chill Filtered and Natural Color   Bruichladdich Islay Barley is part 2 of the Wee Laddie tasting collection….I expect this to be better than the Classic Laddie which was a bit of a disappointment.  Let’s see how the Islay Barley compares.   The smell is sweet honey, malt, orange/lemon peel, burnt sugar and some flowers.  Really nice The taste is sea salt, vanilla, honey, spice, almond, apples and pears – just excellent. The finish is the same as the taste – all of the same sea salt, honey, vanilla and almond flavors are fading out.   Wow – this is really nice.  I was not expecting this at all.  It has an Old Pulteney feel to it which is always welcomed in this house.  Grab a bottle of this if you can.  I should be able to grab a bottle of this around $60.  It’s well worth it.   I will certainly grab a bottle of this next time out.  I can certainly see why Harrison Ford says this is his favorite Scotch.    Overall Grade: A    

First whiskey I ever bought and had. Briney, citrus, and a sentimental bottle to me. I’d buy this year again if I could ever find it at MSRP. I paid about 65 bucks for it back in 2019, and frankly there may be better bottles at that price range, but if you like this distillery, it is a great expression and feels worth its price.

Nose: immediately met with sweet notes vanilla cream, lemon meringue, pear, buttered waffle, and possibly a light note of mint. Digging deeper, you find layers of Islay funk consisting of light brine, damp moss and earth, with a distinct sage. Taste: initial burst of fresh black pepper and Islay funk (all the funk from the nose). Mid-palate shifts tones with the addition of sweeter notes including vanilla cream, waffle, pear, and lemon tart. The sweetness gradually tapers off into a lingering peppery earth. Final notes: just a classic example of the beauty that can be found in an unpeated Islay whisky. Bruichladdich already sets a standard with their Classic Laddie but their Islay Barley releases are rather unique derivatives. This is full of complexities that I'm sure I have not completely explored and I expect to find more as I continue to return back to this bottle. Returning to the nose after a sip is also rather refreshing because the sweeter qualities condense. Definitely a great whiskey that offers an enjoyably complex nose and taste. Disclaimer: If you cannot find the 2009 release anymore, consider just purchasing the Classic Laddie. I would say their profile is only 10-15% different with much of the core notes still being present in the Laddie. This happens to just be much sweeter.