With a Bruichladdich scotch whisky lineup, from their namesake unpeated Bruichladdish scotch to their Port Charlotte Heavily Peated and Octomore Edition series, there's a dram for every palate!
Jump to:
- Learning about Bruichladdich Scotch Whisky
- My Tasting Notes
- Bruichladdich Classic Scottish Barley
- Bruidladdich Bere Barley 2010
- Bruichladdich The Organic 2010
- Bruichladdich Port Charlotte 10 year
- Bruichladdich Port Charlotte MRC:01 2010 Cask Strength
- And then there's Octomore
- Bruichladdich Octomore Edition 10.1
- Bruichladdich Octomore Edition 10.3
- Bruichladdich Octomore Edition 10.4
- Final thoughts
- More Islay scotch tasting notes
- Comments
[Note: This post is sponsored by Bruichladdich.]
Learning about Bruichladdich Scotch Whisky
Back in August, 2019 I was treated to lunch and a scotch tasting with Jason Cousins, Bruichladdich's New England Brand Development Manager.
He filled me in about Bruichladdich's Bere Barley 2010 and The Organic 2010 unpeated expressions, and expressions from Port Charlotte's Heavily Peated 10 and MRC:01 2010.
We prepped our palates with a sip of Bruichladdich's Classic Laddie unpeated scotch, then stepped through this wonderful lineup. Jason gave me interesting facts about each offering and patiently answered all my questions.
These drams paired beautifully with our seared tuna salad entrées and chocolate mousse and apple crumble desserts. Yes, two desserts...I'm livin' the high life!
Enough about lunch, let's get to the tasting!
My Tasting Notes
Bruichladdich Unpeated & Peated Scotch
At Eastern Standard Restaurant in Boston, August 7, 2019
Hosted by Jason Cousins
Bruichladdich Classic Scottish Barley
50% ABV
Type: Scottish
Keywords: Islay, Scotch, Single Malt, Whisky
Tasting Notes
- Nose: Barley, light ocean breezes, moss
- Taste: Soft entry, cereal, oatmeal, light brown sugar,
- Finish: Fades to baking spices and light brown sugar
Comments
Very clean and pure, lots of grains and an easy sweetness.
Bruidladdich Bere Barley 2010
50%ABV, A barley variety from a single Orkney estate; a 6-row barley that grows fast but with less yield, and has more protein & less starch in it, 8yr ex-bourbon cask
Type: Scottish
Keywords: Bourbon Cask Finish, Islay, Scotch, Single Malt, Whisky
Tasting Notes
- Nose: Pineapple, peaches, floral, aromatic, vanilla and honey underneath
- Taste: Medium body, wheat, then cloves and allspice
- Finish: Allspice fades to peach butter and leather
Comments
Fruit pulp emphasis with baking spices thrown in for good measure. It's a beautiful sip that needs to be savored.
Bruichladdich The Organic 2010
50%ABV, Single estate organic barley, Mid Coul (near Inverness), 8yr ex-bourbon cask, entire process organic, matured on Islay
Type: Scottish
Keywords: Blended Whisky, Bourbon Cask Finish, Islay, Scotch, Single Malt
Tasting Notes
- Nose: Deeper, more robust barley aroma, date syrup, white chocolate
- Taste: Soft to spicy, vanilla fudge, honey syrup, rises to white pepper, reasted cereal, thick body
- Finish: Pears at the end
Comments
Deep flavors of toast well balanced with orchard fruit sweetness.
Bruichladdich Port Charlotte 10 year
50%ABV, Peated to 40ppm, Uses Highland peat to get a Speyside type of flavor; blended from 65% first-fill American whiskey casks, 10% second-fill American whiskey casks, and 25% second-fill French wine casks
Type: Scottish
Keywords: Islay, Peated, Scotch, Single Malt, Whisky
Tasting Notes
- Nose:
- Flower and forest smoke, vanilla
- Taste: Ash starts, pine, then orchard fruits take over
- Finish: Orchard fruits linger with cold campfire ash
Comments
Gentle nose, not aggressive, fruity and ashy. There's a dichotomy between the Islay name and forest flavor. Note: I've reviewed this expression before if you want to see my previous tasting notes.
Bruichladdich Port Charlotte MRC:01 2010 Cask Strength
59.2%ABV, Peated to 40ppm, 100% malted barley from Invernesshire; aged 6 yrs in American oak and 1 yr in Bordeaux wine cask
Type: Scottish
Keywords: American Oak Cask Finish, Cask Strength, Islay, Peated, Scotch, Whisky, Wine Cask Finish
Tasting Notes
- Nose: Barley first, cooked plums next, fruit leather, very light ash
- Taste: Light hot charcoal, blak pepper, allspice, cloves, not as much fruit
- Finish: Cloves linger, soft ash beneath
Comments
Definately can tell this is cask strength, goes great with chocolate!; with water more pine and pineapple on nose, still have ash on the palate that fades to forest ash, peaches, and an herbal note.
And then there's Octomore
Jason later invited me to a masterclass led by none other than Adam Hannett, Bruichladdich's Head Distiller. A personable fellow just to chat with, Adam educated us with his deep knowledge about the ins and outs of making what is, in essence, a craft scotch.
In fact, the Bruichladdich Bere Barley and Organic expressions fall into that category as well.
The Octomore Edition series is based on a specific goal in mind for each expression based on the type of barley and the type of cask used.
A numbering system is employed as a guide so the consumer can know what is the emphasis of a particular bottle (see photo below). Because growing conditions change from year to year, each year's expressions have a unique flavor profile.
The way Adam presented each whisky emphasized how the plan was to make a scotch singular unto itself, using vintage stills and small batch techniques.
And boy, did they succeed!
Octomore Edition Series
At The Hawthorne Restaurant in Boston, October 2, 2019
Hosted by Jason Cousins, presented by Adam Hannett (Bruichladdich Head Distiller)
Bruichladdich Octomore Edition 10.1
59.8%ABV, Peated to 107ppm, Aged 5 years
Type: Scottish
Keywords: Bourbon Cask Finish, Islay, Peated, Scotch, Single Malt, Whisky
Tasting Notes
- Nose: Honey, hay, barley, vanilla fudge, orchard fruits, citrus, smoke underneath
- Taste: Smoke hits, white pepper, honey, light peaches, candied lemon peel, oily body
- Finish: Fades to ash, wheat, subtle sweetness, candied lemon peel lingers
Comments
The smoke hits hard but very pleasantly, doesn’t burn so much as smolder with honey and candied fruit; well balanced between smoke, vanilla, and candied fruit.
Bruichladdich Octomore Edition 10.3
61.3%ABV, Peated to 114ppm, Islay barley from 1 harvest, similar to 10.1, looking for the terroir of the scotch, aged 6yrs
Type: Scottish
Keywords: Bourbon Cask Finish, Islay, Peated, Scotch, Single Malt, Whisky
Tasting Notes
- Nose:
- Peaches, clover honey, heather, no smoke just fruit
- Taste: Chewy, peaches, thick honey, a little savory with bbq sauces then smoke decides to show up
- Finish: Smoke rises at the middle to the end, mingling with that bbq sauce quality
Comments
Think smoky peach bbq sauce on ribs; the smoke is complimented by the peaches, phenomenal! A wonderful representation of Islay, and so drinkable.
Bruichladdich Octomore Edition 10.4
63.5%ABV, Peated to 88ppm, Aged 3 years in a heavily toasted French Virgin Oak cask
Type: Scottish
Keywords: French Virgin Oak Finish, Islay, Peated, Scotch, Single Malt, Whisky
Tasting Notes
- Nose: Honey, oak tannins, cooked fruit, salty, deep caramel almost burnt
- Taste: Oily sweetness, then thick smoke & prunes, salty sweet
- Finish: Smoke & astringent fruits linger long and strong
Comments
Almost like it’s from a sherry cask, high-alcohol almost balances the strong virgin oak influences; sea breezes on the tongue but not iodine, crusty salt and cooked prunes; drying in the mouth.
Final thoughts
Mentioning Octomore either elicits cheers or groans from people. Their lineup bills itself as the world's most heavily peated single malt scotch. That label can be daunting, but even within Octomore Edition series there is variance and subtlety.
All their peated scotch are eminently drinkable. This Octomore Edition lineup is truly worth seeking out.
Many thanks go to Jason for including me in these two tasting events. I enjoyed this deep dive into Bruichladdich's unpeated & peated lineup very much.
And just as when I got to attend a tasting with Kavalan Master Blender, Ian Chang, hearing Adam's talk about the making of Octomore Edition series was fun and informative.
Bruichladdich's handcrafted expressions, whether unpeated or peated, certainly fit my palate, and hopefully yours as well!
I hope you like this review! If you've tried any of the expressions and have your own tasting notes, please leave a comment. Thanks!
Slainté! L’chaim! Cheers!
- Tammy
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