Bruichladdich 10 year Old Skool 25th Anniversary Limited Edition Single Islay Malt Whisky 70 cl 50%

On the western shore of Islay, facing the grey water of Loch Indaal, stands a distillery that once fell silent. In 2001 the stills were fired up again. Twenty-five years on, Bruichladdich looks back with a bottle that could have come straight off a 1980s shelf. The whisky inside is anything but old-fashioned.

Expert's description

Bruichladdich Old Skool 10 year is an Islay Single Malt Whisky matured in 1st fill bourbon casks and 1st fill Sauternes casks and bottled at 50%.

It is the first of three limited releases marking 25 years since the distillery was brought back to life. The label borrows its look from Bruichladdich's own bottlings of the 1980s, a deliberate glance over the shoulder. Every grain of barley was grown on Islay by 14 local farmers, all within roughly nine miles of the distillery. For Bruichladdich that is the point: barley has a sense of place, and you should be able to taste it.

There is no peat here. The spirit is double distilled and spent ten years mostly in 1st fill American oak bourbon casks, which bring vanilla, coconut and soft caramel. A smaller parcel went into 1st fill Sauternes casks, and that is where the floral sweetness and ripe apricot come from. The casks were married, then reduced with Islay spring water to 50%, with no chill filtration and no added colour.

The bottle itself contains around 60% recycled glass. Bruichladdich has not published a bottle count, but this is a limited release, and several UK retailers sold out within weeks of the March 2026 launch.

Tasting notes

Nose

Ripe apricot and nectarine lead, followed by red plum and vanilla custard. Underneath sits a gentle, salty sea breeze, a quiet reminder of where it was made.

Palate

Rounded and slightly oily. Stone fruit and citrus zest, barley sugar and stewed pear. The oak adds creamy coconut and caramelised vanilla, while clove, ginger and toasted almond give it warmth and a bit of grip.

Finish

Apricot jam and toasted coconut linger, with barley sugar and dry toasted oak fading out last.

Specifications

Name: Bruichladdich Old Skool 10 year
Distillery: Bruichladdich
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 50%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: 1st fill bourbon casks and 1st fill Sauternes casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: Double distilled
Edition: 25th Anniversary Limited Release
EAN no.: 5055807422161

Flavour profile

Fruity · Sweet · Unpeated · Bourbon cask · Maritime · Lightly spiced

Did you know?

The label on Old Skool carries a map of Islay printed with the names of the farmers who grew the barley for this very whisky. 14 of the distillery's 19 farming partners on the island made the cut.

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Frequently asked questions about Bruichladdich Old Skool 10 year

What does Bruichladdich Old Skool taste like?

Fruity and sweet, with apricot, nectarine and stewed pear up front. The bourbon casks add vanilla and coconut, and the small share of Sauternes casks brings a floral, honeyed lift. A touch of sea salt on the nose and some spice on the palate keep it from getting too polite.

Is Old Skool a peated whisky?

No, it is unpeated. Bruichladdich makes both smoky and unsmoked whisky, but the peated spirit goes into Port Charlotte and Octomore. Old Skool belongs to the unpeated range, where barley and casks do the talking.

Why does Islay barley matter?

It gives the whisky a real sense of place. The barley comes from 14 farms on Islay, and Bruichladdich believes soil, weather and variety show up in the glass much like they do in wine. Master blender Adam Hannett puts it simply: 100% Islay barley gives depth and a genuine feel of where it comes from.

What do the Sauternes casks add?

A floral, honey-like sweetness and extra apricot. Sauternes is a sweet white wine from Bordeaux, and these casks had only been used once before. Only a small part of the whisky spent time in them, so they season rather than dominate.

Should you add water to it?

Try it neat first, then add a few drops of water. At 50%, a little water often opens up more fruit and vanilla. A tulip-shaped whisky glass helps concentrate the aromas, and ice is best left out. It works nicely with an apricot tart or a ripe, soft cheese.

Why is it called Old Skool?

The name celebrates 25 years since the 2001 reopening and nods to the distillery's roots. The design draws on Bruichladdich labels from the 1980s, and it is the first of three anniversary bottlings released in 2026.

What is the history of Bruichladdich?

Bruichladdich was built in 1881 and closed in 1994. In 2001 a small group of enthusiasts bought and reopened it, and since then it has become one of the most experimental names on Islay. Explore more of the island's distilleries in our Islay Whisky range.