Bruichladdich Bere Barley 2012 – 50%
The color is very light and beautifully golden. The aroma is complex, offering notes of dusty sawmill, tobacco, lemon, sea breeze, and a hint of the classic 'Bruichladdich funk,' which, in my case, can best be described as a rural scent of hay and stable. The taste is robust, featuring honey, dark rye bread, grapefruit, mint, and hibiscus.
The finish is dry, simple, and appropriate. Black pepper emerges along with charred oak and lingers for a fine period after consumption.
There is no doubt that this whisky has a lot to offer and will satisfy the whisky enthusiast who prefers craftsmanship with complex notes.
Bruichladdich The Organic 2011 – 50%
The next release was the organic variant from Bruichladdich. It is produced from organic barley from Mid Coul Farm, located in northern Scotland. This time, it has been aged for a minimum of 11 years in Bourbon casks.
The color is very similar to the Bere Barley variant with its beautiful light golden hue.
The aroma takes a different direction than its predecessor. This one is sweeter, more approachable, and beginner-friendly with notes of cream caramel, barley malt, vanilla sugar, and lemon custard.
The taste is also more beginner-friendly and sweet compared to its predecessor, continuing in the same style suggested by the aroma. Robust malt sweetness, sweet mint, fresh oak, and lemon dominate the tasting experience.
The finish is medium-length and offers browned butter, along with vanilla and lemon once again.
This release reminds me a lot of their 'Classic Laddie' series. It is sweet and beginner-friendly but, according to my taste, lacks some of the funk and complexity that I appreciate Bruichladdich so much for.
Black Arts 29YO – 45,1%
The last of the non-peated releases from Bruichladdich is nothing less than 29 years old. The specific cask type used is unspecified, so one must explore through scent and taste.
The color is significantly darker than its two predecessors, possessing a beautiful wineous, ruby-red hue. This suggests the use of some type of fortified wine-based cask.
The aroma is deep, dark, and incredibly delicious. I would venture to say that a powerful and active sherry cask has been used for the maturation of this whisky. Notes of raisins, cranberries, strawberries, dark chocolate, roasted nuts, and leather make it an experience before the liquid has even touched the tongue.
The taste lives up to the promises of the aroma, and the age is clearly represented. The 45.1% alcohol is fully utilized, and the whisky still feels robust and full despite the low percentage. The palate is both sweet and salty, with notes of blackberry compote, dark fruit, dark malt, limestone, tobacco, and sea salt. Excellent!
The finish continues in the maritime universe with a note of old, earthy wood, almost like I imagine a piece of driftwood might taste. In addition to this, the note of tobacco and roasted nuts becomes more pronounced and lingers long after ingestion.
With Black Arts 29YO, Bruichladdich has delivered a whisky that appeals to both those who have enjoyed whisky for 10 days and those who have enjoyed whisky for 10+ years. It is complex without being overwhelming, and it is sweet without being dull. My absolute favorite among this series of releases from Bruichladdich!
Now is the time to taste the two peated releases under the name Port Charlotte. Bruichladdich smokes the Port Charlotte series to around 40-50 ppm. There is certainly a significant difference between the Port Charlotte series and the Octomore series, which is smoked with record-high levels of peat.
Islay Barley 2014 – 50%
This release of Port Charlotte is matured in three different cask types, including 84% Bourbon casks, 8% Virgin oak casks, and 8% Bordeaux red wine casks. It has been aged for a minimum of 7 years and is bottled at 50%.
The color closely resembles the first two Bruichladdich releases I discussed in this post. The light golden hue is consistent.
The aroma offers cocoa powder, vanilla sugar, green grapes, peat, and a funky barn note.
It feels incredibly oily on the tongue and tastes of peppermint, gentle peat, and vanilla sugar.
The peat smoke and peppermint linger long after ingestion, accompanied by a maritime note of seaweed.
Islay Barley 2014 is a complex but also approachable dram. At least, if you enjoy smoky Islay whisky. The peat is not overwhelming and provides ample space for the spirit to unfold. Elegant and classic Port Charlotte!
PMC: 01 2013 – 54,5%
The last release I had the pleasure of engaging with is also the most alternative. It is, in fact, bottled at full cask strength at 54.5% and aged for 4 years in bourbon casks and an additional 5 years in Pomerol casks from Bordeaux, France. The 5 years in Pomerol casks have truly left a significant imprint on the whisky.
The color is dark and amber-golden, clearly indicating the active influence of the Pomerol cask.
The aroma offers red berries, burnt hay, peat smoke, iron, and once again, the funky barn note.
The taste builds on the aroma with notes of overripe fruit, walnuts, bacon, and venison.
Fruit acidity, wood, and iron linger long after ingestion.
There is no doubt that the quality of this whisky is quite high, but it requires a specific taste. In my world, the combination of active wine/fortified wine casks and strong peat creates a metallic and meaty taste that I have not yet learned to love. However, I am confident that this release will be a favorite for many, as the quality is evident in all aspects. The taste is robust, the distillate is apparent despite the cask aging, and the balance is good. It simply requires a palate that suits it!
