Bruichladdich Black Art 1994 8.1 Edition 26 Year

Having always had a visceral love for Bruichladdich, considering Adam Hannett a genius and Black Art 07.1 a point of reference, I have high expectations for this product. Nose: very complex, in whiskies I like to find some aromas that I clearly identify, without exaggerating in the quantity of essences. But here as already in 07.1 we go to another world: I feel so many aromas that I find it hard to enumerate them ... I try: various citrus fruits from lemon to orange to bergamot, ginger, peach jam, apricots, port, very little sherry, very floral it's fresh. I clearly perceive the influence of ex-bourbon barrels with vanilla, but also "artificial" smells such as leather and enamel. Palate: here too a slaughterhouse…. Certainly honey, a lot of honey, but also flowers of various types: it seems to put your head in a bouquet. Definitely sherry, raisins, ginger and orange and lemon peel, plums. Here too there is a clear influence of the ex bourbon barrels, with vanilla and more honey. Is it possible that there are former Jack Daniel's barrels among those selected for this mysterious whiskey? I think I feel like a pint of JD Gold no 27. Very good, always as dense as 07.1, even if a little less. Final: at the first shot I wrote “I expected it to be longer, instead relatively short and light”. The second glass is perfect, with a predominance of citrus fruits, and for this reason slightly bitter, with the particularity of tobacco: the sensation is a bit like smoking an excellent Cuban cigar! Excellent whisky, perhaps too experimental (read how the Black Art line is made on the website). The comparison with 07.1, a true masterpiece, is in my opinion a loser, even if not by much. The problem is not in this whiskey, which is superb, but rather in 07.1 which is one of the best whiskeys I have ever drunk! I rate 4.99, only because at 07.1 I had given 5.00…. _______________________________________________ Avendo da sempre un amore viscerale per la Bruichladdich, considerando Adam Hannett un genio ed il Black Art 07.1 un punto di riferimento, ho grandi aspettative per questo prodotto. Naso: molto complesso, nei whisky mi piace trovare alcuni aromi che identifico chiaramente, senza esagerare nella quantità di essenze. Ma qui come già nel 07.1 si va in un altro mondo: sento così tanti aromi che faccio fatica ad enumerarli… provo: agrumi vari dal limone all’arancio al bergamotto, zenzero, marmellata di pesche, albicocche, porto, pochissimo sherry, molto floreale e fresco. Percepisco netta l’influenza di barili ex bourbon con vaniglia, ma anche odori “artificiali” tipo cuoio e smalto. Palato: anche qui un macello…. Sicuramente miele, molto miele, ma anche fiori di vario tipo: sembra di infilare la testa in un bouquet. Sherry sicuramente, uvetta, zenzero e scorze di arancio e di limone, prugne. Anche qui netta influenza delle botti ex bourbon, con vaniglia e ancora miele. Possibile che ci siano botti ex Jack Daniel’s tra quelle selezionate per questo misterioso whisky? Mi pare di sentirci una pinta di JD Gold no 27. Molto buono, sempre denso come il 07.1, anche se un po’ meno. Finale: al primo bicchierino ho scritto “me lo aspettavo più lungo, invece relativamente breve e leggero”. Al secondo bicchierino è perfetto, con predominanza di agrumi, e proprio per questo leggermente amarognolo, con la particolarità del tabacco: la sensazione è un po’ quella di fumare un ottimo sigaro cubano! Ottimo whisky, forse fin troppo sperimentale (leggete come è fatta la linea Black Art sul sito). Il paragone con il 07.1, vero masterpiece, è secondo me perdente, anche se non di molto. Il problema non è in questo whisky, che è superlativo, quanto piuttosto nel 07.1 che è uno dei whisky più buoni che abbia mai bevuto! Voto 4,99, solo perché al 07.1 avevo dato 5,00….

Nose - Vanilla bean & riesling poached pears, caramel, saline, candied ginger, pomelo/orange zest, fruity grape skins, candy apple shell sweet Taste - Poached pears, gentle ginger heat/tingle, candied oranges, dried apples, muscat raisin sweet "funk", hint of salt, milk chocolate, light caramel Finish - Lingering salty sweet apple/pear, hint of sweet dessert wine "funk", gentle heat Score - 92/100 Final Thoughts - So the initial nose on this was is just amazing. After having had a few subpar whiskies the past few days, this brings me back to what a nicely balanced dram can have. You don't have to search this dram for the aromas to come out of the glass, there's quite a lot going on & frankly it's all quite pleasant. The nose is also an accurate representation of what happens once it hits the palate as well. A big burst of a perfectly balanced dram. Bright vibrant poached pear notes with a tiny hint of caramel & dried apple. Finish is moderate to long, but everything about it is pleasant. If I had to guess the makeup of this one, I'd say there's a higher percentage of ex-bourbon and there have to be at least a few sweeter wine finished and maybe even a calvados finished? This is a perfect proof to sip on and even though I didn't add any water, I don't think it needs it. Would I drink it if offered? - Yes Would I specifically order it? - Yes Would I buy a bottle? - Maybe another if I could find it cheaper. NOTE - All reviews are done without factoring in price.

Tight at first pour, as expected. Beautiful color, electric gold and caramel. Very little on the nose at first. After 10 minutes you begin to get some gentle caramel. Still tight but some spice begins to appear, maybe cinnamon. Honey. Still a bit tight after 15 minutes. After 20 minutes the aroma gets from the glass to me, and is suddenly intense. Coconut is apparent. First taste, very unusual flavors appear. Let it open further, and it changes. This whisky is a chameleon. Tobacco now on the nose. Definitely get dried fruit and some raisin with orange. Definitely opening up as caramel begins to mix with the dried dates and raisins. Another smell, and definite sea water with the caramel. On the tongue, really long with fruit, maybe pear on end and chocolate finish. Further opening and the chocolate appears first on the nose. Then orange and chocolate. Like a wine, this really opens. By end of dram, the orange and citrus dominates with a milk chocolate finish and soft tannin. One of the most complex whiskies I have ever had. Amazing. Great dessert wine. Summary: chocolate, orange, vanilla and tobacco that unfold over time in perfect balance. Dessert in a glass. Great summary: [https://flaviar.com/bruichladdich/bruichladdich-black-art-81/tasting-notes-reviews] Best whisky I have ever had. The complexity, flavor, balance - this is one to not forget and it actually wears its price well.

This was one of our two whiskeys we had over an extended family Thanksgiving dinner. The consensus word used by all that had this was “wow”. At $600 / bottle (and a generous item to bring over by a family member), this wasn’t cheap. But it’s amazing. Fruits galore. Peaches, cream first. Followed by roasted nuts, almonds. Finish is lingering with sweet cream and spices. Wow is the right word to describe this. The entire bottle was polished off in one night between us all…was one of the highlights of Thanksgiving dinner

One of the few whiskies I describe as beautiful. I’ve enjoyed coming back to this bottle over the weeks and am always left wanting more. The sweet, the subdued malt, the delicate richness (how is that even possible?), the bursting fruity transforming nose. Just an excellent example of some extremely well managed aging. Beautiful pour.

Beautiful bouquet of toffee, caramel pear, flowers. Very smooth on the palate - vanilla, caramel, dates. A hint of bitterness going down. Smooth heat and light, refreshing aftertaste.