September 24, 2015

Time Warp tasting, today Bruichladdich

These simple little sessions can sometimes go wrong. Especially when a much older bottling is actually much younger and was bottled at a much lower strength. Ooh my head…

Bruichladdich 12 yo 2002/2015 (64.1%, Rest & Be Thankful, bourbon, cask #588, 233 bottles)

A very high strength, but remember Bruichladdich rather fill at 70% vol. instead of the usual 63 or 63.5%. Colour: straw. Nose: first question, first answer, is there any peat? Yes, but just a little, that works just like pepper on a steak. Other than that, it’s rather less blocked than I had thought, and the trademark melons and white peaches do come through despite the 64% vol. Quite some vanilla as well – but let’s not push our luck. With water: a little sea air indeed, some grass, a little porridge, and rather more grapefruits instead of melons. Very fresh Bruichladdich, very lovely. A little clay as well. Mouth (neat): it’s very strong, do not quaff more than half a drop just like that, that’ll just burn your throat. Indeed, that’s what I just did ;-). Cough, cough… With water: excellently zesty and lemony, with a solid mineral and vanilla-ed foundation. It’s kind of fizzy as well (Schweppes, quinine) and Id even swear I can find ‘ideas’ of gin and juniper. Really very straight, and excellent. Finish: long, zesty. Lemon and chalk plus grass and grapefruits. Sancerre-y! Comments: impressive whisky, a bit in the style of the latest official 10 (first batches) but with more punch. SGP:551 - 89 points.

Bruichladdich 10 yo 1965 (95° proof, OB for Samaroli, +/-1975)

A very rare early bottling by Maestro Silvano Samaroli. 95° proof UK translates into approx 54.2% vol. Colour: gold. Nose: oh, a wonderful chocolaty sherry at first nosing, with growing notes of shoe polish and coal, perhaps echoes of when Bruichladdich was peated. The freshness is there too, rather with apple peelings this time, and the old-skool side takes off after five minutes, with engine oils, wet concrete, carbolinium, and quite a lot of black earth. A little game and tobacco from the sherry as well, but the style remains pretty ‘fino’ despite the chocolate. Mouth: madre de dios! Some selection! I’m not saying it’s as ‘high’ as Samaroli’s famous Glen Garioch 1971 or Springbank 12, but we’re not very far. Exceptional notes of bitter oranges, more smoke than in the nose, the most precious peppers, and all things even remotely phenolic, although this baby wouldn’t disperse itself. Remains compact and focused, in an impeccable manner. Perfect strength and body. Finish: very long, with a greasiness and a mineral waxiness that hint at old Clynelish. We shan’t complain! Comments: just superb. Only drawback, no surprise here, that was to be expected from Sig. Silvano Samaroli. Bang! SGP:462 - 93 points.

Check the index of all Bruichladdich I've tasted so far