Bruichladdich The Classic Laddie

Smooth front end taste with hints of salt and honey. Slight burn on the finish

(The Spirits Embassy – The Bruichladdich Virtual Tasting Night, 26 March 2021). Nose: Sweet, honey, boiled sweets, sweetened breakfast cereal, floral, salty, orange zest Palate: Fruit (apple & pear), demerara sugar, cloves, ginger Finish: Saline, citrus, salted caramel, warming 100% Scottish barley 100% maturation on Islay Apparently, Bruichladdich currently have over 70,000 casks maturing on Islay This is still a classic and one I always have on the shelf. The finish is very warm and pleasantly souring on the aftertaste.

Smell: Medium intensity smell. The fruits are the most apparent right off the bat with classic apples and pears but also apricot and red berries with strawberries and raspberries from the red wine barrels I would suppose. Then, you get honey, granola and a light malt funk (from the youth maybe?). Light menthol and general coastline smells. Light vanilla and floral notes in the far back. Taste: Just like in the smell, the fruits are at the forefront of the taste with apple, pears, apricots and the red berries are still there but not as strong as expected. Then, it's a quick shift into honey, flowers, vanilla and granola with the funk not as strong as in the smell. A little amount of iodine. Despite the number of different flavors, it's all quite coherent, surprisingly so for the age IME. Adding a little water really helps balance the flavors well (at the cost of the mouthfeel), a little white chocolate even appears, and is a strong recommendation from me. With even more water, a rye like menthol comes out. Finish: Medium to quick finish. Little menthol and general maltiness with cheap vanilla frosting. A little floral-bitter. The low point of this whisky. Mouthfell: Medium to viscous, no apparent oiliness (despite the non chill filtering). Impressive mouthfeel for 50 ABV. Overall: This is a very solid whisky for the price and a great entry in Bruichladdich offerings. Despite being classic flavors, it has a distinct identity. It's very good but expect the mouthfeel, it doesn't really wow me much.

Caramel and toffee on the nose. Floral rounding into honey with a cinnamon and spicy pepper finish

Pear. Brine. Pepper heat on the finish

Love it. So tasty. Just 1 cube!

A bit harsh on the palette, but not in the good way of a heavy peat. There are some lovely flavours in there, perfect for the time and mood you could use a kick.

Buy again