Bruichladdich 18 year old The Kinship 2023 Single Islay Malt Whisky 61,5%

On Islay, they say some casks simply wait for the right moment. This is one of them — 18 years in the dark, ready to be celebrated alongside the island's biggest news.

Expert description

Bruichladdich 18 Year Old The Kinship 2023 is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky from Hunter Laing, matured in a single cask and bottled at cask strength, 61.5%.

The whisky is part of Hunter Laing's Kinship series, which in 2023 arrived at its seventh and final edition. The series was created to mark the opening of Hunter Laing's own distillery, Ardnahoe, on Islay, and the name Kinship refers to the closeness Ardnahoe shares with the island's other distilleries. The Bruichladdich bottling is the youngest in the closing edition, which otherwise spans whiskies as old as 33 years from names like Bowmore and Bunnahabhain.

The whisky comes from a single cask and is bottled at its natural cask strength, with no colouring or chill filtration. Only 245 bottles were drawn from this particular cask, making it one of the rarer releases in Hunter Laing's Islay portfolio.

Tasting notes

Nose

Black pepper and caramel, combined with a hint of macerated red berries. A richness runs through it all, hinting at the long maturation.

Palate

Baked apples, nutmeg and a distinct hint of French oak. The cask strength gives a solid bite, but never overpowers the fruit.

Finish

Long and spiced, with a lingering oak warmth that lingers on the palate long after the last sip.

Specifications

Name: 18 Year Old The Kinship 2023
Distillery: Bruichladdich
Bottler: Hunter Laing
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 18 years
ABV: 61.5%
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: Double distilled
Distilled: 2005
Number of bottles: 245
Edition: The Kinship 2023
EAN: 5060354284032

Flavour profile

Spiced · Fruity · Creamy · Oaky

Investment potential

Medium — this is the final edition in a now-completed and sought-after series from Hunter Laing, with only 245 bottles from a single cask bottled at cask strength. Being the youngest and most accessible bottling in the Kinship series, however, interest is somewhat more muted than for the series' older releases.

Did you know?

The Kinship series was created to celebrate Hunter Laing finally opening its own distillery, Ardnahoe, after decades as a pure independent bottler. Ardnahoe sits on Islay's north-east coast, overlooking the very distilleries many of the series' bottles come from.

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Questions and answers about Bruichladdich 18 Year Old The Kinship 2023

How does Bruichladdich 18 Year Old The Kinship 2023 taste?

It offers black pepper, caramel and red berries on the nose, while the palate has baked apples, nutmeg and French oak. The 61.5% cask strength gives a strong bite, but the fruit carries through.

Is Bruichladdich 18 Year Old The Kinship 2023 worth it?

Yes, considering it's a single cask with only 245 bottles from one of Islay's most respected independent bottlers. The age, cask strength and limited quantity make it an easy choice for collectors of Hunter Laing releases.

How rare is this Bruichladdich?

With only 245 bottles from a single cask, it's relatively rare, though as the youngest in the Kinship series it's also one of the more attainable releases in the line-up.

What makes Bruichladdich 18 Year Old The Kinship 2023 special?

It's the seventh and final edition in Hunter Laing's Kinship series, created to celebrate the opening of their own distillery, Ardnahoe, on Islay. That story makes the bottle more than just another single cask.

What glass suits this whisky best?

A narrow whisky glass such as a Glencairn glass gathers the aromas best, giving you the full experience of the pepper, caramel and oak. Browse our whisky glasses.

Why is the series called The Kinship?

The name refers to the kinship between Hunter Laing's new distillery Ardnahoe and the other distilleries on Islay that the series draws bottles from, including Bruichladdich, Bowmore and Caol Ila.

Is Bruichladdich 18 Year Old The Kinship 2023 an Islay or Island whisky?

It's from Islay, the island south of Jura known for its coastal distilleries. The term Island whisky instead covers bottles from Scotland's other islands, such as Skye and Orkney. Browse our full range of Islay whisky.