Bruichladdich The Classic Laddie

This one’s a real unique beast. The batch code on my bottle reveals a blend of 7-10 year old malts aged in bourbon and wine casks. The nose is unmistakably Islay, but is missing those characteristic phenol notes that result from peat usage. It still smells quite briny and smoky with hints of fruity sweetness. I’m greeted with a burst of rich flavor on my tongue receptors when I taste this whisky. It sort of glides around my mouth hole and triggers all of my flavor detectors in a rather pleasant way. Again, it’s definitely an Islay, and the lack of peat doesn’t change that at all. The finish is long and nuanced. Some savory smoke notes and dark fruit notes linger for a moment before leaving an ethereal film of rugged seaside flavors. This is a solid bottle for the value. I’ll admit that I was skeptical of this young and unconventional single malt, but Jim McEwan definitely knew what he was doing. This is definitive proof that there’s a whole lot more to Islay than just peat.

VERY different from any other Islay, without the peat. And yet its still different from highland/speyside. Definitely has the coastal briny character. All around, it’s an amazing whisky.

Butter and spice on the nose. Spicy sweet on the palate.