Bruichladdich Greener Still 25th Anniversary 15 year old Limited Edition Single Islay Malt Whisky 70 cl 51,6%

Most whiskies are shaped by the cask. This one was shaped by the soil. A windswept field on Orkney, a farm in Wiltshire where the sowing follows the moon, and organic fields on the Scottish mainland. Three barleys, fifteen years, one first fill bourbon barrel at a time.

Expert description

Bruichladdich Greener Still 15 year is an unpeated Islay Single Malt Whisky, matured for its entire life in 1st fill bourbon casks and bottled at 51.6%.

It's part of Bruichladdich's 25th Anniversary Limited Release and the third anniversary bottling of 2026, following Old Skool and Yellow Submarine III. It was launched in August 2026. It's also the fourth chapter of the Still series, which the distillery hadn't touched in almost 20 years. Back then, Blacker Still, Redder Still and Golder Still were all about the casks. This time the barley takes the lead.

The recipe is 45% biodynamic barley, 30% organic barley and 25% Bere. The biodynamic share comes from Yatesbury House Farm in Wiltshire, a carbon-positive farm. In 2021 Bruichladdich used that barley to make the world's first biodynamic Scotch Whisky, and it's one of the few exceptions to the distillery's Scottish-barley-only rule. The organic barley is grown on the Scottish mainland without artificial fertilisers or sprays, something Bruichladdich has done since 2003. The last quarter is Bere, an ancient barley variety the distillery has worked with since 2005. This Bere was grown on Orkney together with the University of the Highlands and Islands.

Everything was distilled, matured and bottled on Islay, and Islay spring water was used to bring the whisky down to bottling strength. The 1st fill bourbon casks bring vanilla and a soft sweetness without taking over, so the barley stays in front: florals, ripe fruit and a rich, malty body. Master Blender Adam Hannett puts it simply: each of the three parcels brings something different, whether that's texture, spice or fruit.

The bottle is opaque green, and it doesn't come in a tin. That's a deliberate choice to cut down on packaging.

Tasting notes

Nose

Lavender and honeysuckle up front, followed by pear, baked apple with cinnamon and a hint of lightly toasted oak. Leave it in the glass for a while and you'll get apricot and a touch of dry grass.

Palate

Soft, almost creamy. Ripe pear, malt and honey with a sharp flash of citrus. Caramel with a hint of chocolate in the middle, then a pinch of pepper that reminds you it's 51.6%.

Finish

Velvety and fairly long. Vanilla, dry oak spice and a fresh, salty coastal note at the very end.

Specifications

Name: Bruichladdich Greener Still 15 year
Distillery: Bruichladdich
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Whisky
Age: 15 years
ABV: 51.6%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: 1st fill bourbon casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: Double distilled
Edition: 25th Anniversary Limited Release, fourth release in the Still series

Flavour profile

Floral · Fruity · Honeyed · Vanilla · Unpeated

Investment potential

Medium. It's a limited 15 year old anniversary release that brings back a series collectors already know, and it sold out on the distillery's own web shop shortly after launch. The number of bottles hasn't been published, so it's hard to say how scarce it will become.

Did you know?

In 2020 Bruichladdich became the first Scotch Whisky distillery to be certified as a B Corp. It's an independent standard that measures how a company treats its staff, its community and the environment. In a way, Greener Still is that certificate in a bottle.

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Frequently asked questions about Bruichladdich Greener Still 15 year

What does Bruichladdich Greener Still taste like?

It's floral and fruity, with honey and vanilla and no smoke at all. Lavender and pear lead on the nose. The palate is soft and malty with a flash of citrus and pepper, and the finish ends on a fresh, salty note that hints at where it was matured.

Is Bruichladdich Greener Still worth it?

Yes, if you care about barley and clean, honest cask maturation. It's a 15 year old Islay Single Malt Whisky, matured entirely in 1st fill bourbon casks, bottled at high strength and made from three types of barley you rarely see in Scotch. It's also a limited anniversary release and part of the Still series, so it won't be easy to find later.

What are Bere barley and biodynamic barley?

Bere is one of the oldest barley varieties in Britain and is mostly grown on Orkney today. It gives low yields but a distinctive malty, grainy flavour. Biodynamic barley is grown organically on a farm that works as a closed loop, using its own fertility and a sowing calendar that follows natural rhythms.

Is Greener Still peated like many other Islay whiskies?

No, it's completely unpeated. Bruichladdich keeps its signature style smoke-free and saves the peat for Port Charlotte and Octomore. If you're after the classic smoky Islay character, have a look at our Islay Whisky.

What is Bruichladdich's Still series?

The Still series is a run of special releases Bruichladdich made between 2006 and 2008: Blacker Still, Redder Still and Golder Still. Those were all about the casks. Greener Still is the fourth and the first new one in almost 20 years, and this time the focus is on barley and farming.

How should I serve Greener Still?

Try it neat at room temperature first, then add a few drops of water. At 51.6%, a little water opens up the floral and fruity notes. Skip the ice, as the cold mutes the aromas. A tulip-shaped whisky glass holds the nose best.