Bruichladdich Islay Barley 2009

Part two of the Wee Laddie tasting set review. *Note this is not the same as the whisky listed as this was bottled specifically for the tasting set and does not have a vintage or farm of origin. I didn’t feel it was worth creating a new entry. The second whisky in this set is the Bruichladdich Islay Barley. This is different from the Classic Laddie in that all of the barley is grown specifically on Islay, the idea being that the terroir really does make an impact on the final product. Like the Classic Laddie, this is bottled at 50% ABV and is non chill filtered and natural color of yellow gold, and is also unpeated. The nose has lots of strong barely notes, honey and lemon citrus. Damp, musty and earthy. Like it’s unpeated brother, this too has a very peated feel to it right off the bat. Lemon squares, faint golden apples, peaches, pineapple and grilled plums. A touch mineral with some wheat bread. Vanilla and oak, maple, toffee, butterscotch and buttery pecans. Very light raspberries as well. The palate is quite spicy, very malty with lots of honey, hay, lemons and salty. Oak and heat, very green and slightly vegetal. Apricots and ginger. Young, vibrant, and spirit forward, but not very complex. A medium to full bodied mouthfeel that is oily and mouthwatering. The finish is medium long, spicy, oaky and salty. I’m not impressed with this whisky. Yes it is presented with pride as it is NCF and NC and at 50%, but it doesn’t have enough going for it taste wise and is a bit too intense to really enjoy. It does show that terroir does matter (or more to the point that the barley varietal matters) and shows that (presumably) changing nothing but the barley can make a huge difference on the intrinsic properties of the spirit. I did not try adding water, which may have helped. As it stands I’m giving it a 3.5. Cheers

[UPDATE: I was going to rate this a 3 when I started my review, but as I worked through it, and started taking notes and typing, the whisky changed quite a bit in the glass. What was fairly mute and unexpressive opened a lot, and the flavors grew more bold. Definitely recommend letting this sit uncovered in the glass for at least 10 minutes] The nose is fairly light, with a bit of saltspray, honeysuckle, and the faintest whiff of citrus, more lemony than grapefruit, but certainly a mashup rather than just one or the other. Maybe not awe-inspiring, but certainly unique. The palate is almost a flavor-for-scent copy of the nose, but underlying it all is an essence of outdoorsiness. Think of eating a grapefruit while sitting on a clean linen in the middle of a freshly harvested hayfield, with the wind blowing the soft vanilla/sugar aromas of honeysuckle past you. Not very complex, but pleasant and enjoyable nonetheless. The finish is all too brief, because this is the best part of the dram for me. It gets heavy, oily, and redolent with lemon and eucalyptus flavor...if they could find a way to carry this flavor throughout the whole experience, it would be a 5-star Scotch. As it is, it's mostly the finish that keeps it from sinking to a 3. I'm beginning to worry that Bruichladdich just isn't my cup of tea. This makes me sad, because I absolutely love the peated expressions from Port Charlotte, and Octomore is my second favorite drink of all time. I don't know for sure, but I'm committed to finding out.

Sampling: Islay Barley 2010 Bruichladdich Islay Barley is unexpected to say the least and it draws on great complexity, given the time it needs to arrive at its “full potential.” This dram needs room to breathe. Failing to provide it space results in both you and the scotch never seeing the whole picture. Initially, I detected honey and not much else. The nose was a tad abrasive, acidic and carrying some notes of acetone. However, that eventually opened up into numerous other notes such as rich cream, vanilla, butterscotch, dried maple leaves, caramel soft candies, brown sugar, and molasses. First impressions are really important and while this one did eventually win me over, the nose didn’t get me all that excited until minutes after pouring. On the tongue, a medium mouthfeel displaying toasted cereal grains, oatmeal, and some incredibly sweet elements with playful candor. Islay Barley might be dessert in a glass for some, but does succeed in balancing the whole package with daring heat. The exit lingers for a bit, then gives up the ghost within 30 seconds or so. Residual heat stays in the chest a few seconds after the dram has left your mouth, leaving a more oily finish. Bruichladdich Islay Barley 2010 is worth the time and money if you can find it. Frankly, you can find better options by Bruichladdich if you’re looking for a crowd pleaser (Classic Laddie). But, if you prefer a nice slow dance with your dram, this one might be calling your number. (FWF Share #67 [3/23/2018])

In honor of Robert Burns day I would be remiss if I didn’t enjoy a few drams tonight, and what better way then to review 3 offerings from Bruichladdich. I received a 3x200ml gift pack for Xmas with 2008/09/10 barley expressions. Let’s get to it. The nose on this bottling is quite unique. I’m used to fruit, or malt, or smoke etc, but this is making me work for it. There is just a hint of tart green apples and watermelon rind that are trying to hide what’s really there which is that organic barley. This has a sweet chalky vibe to it, like when you opened your first pack of Popeye cigarettes as a kid. An interesting but not conventional nose. The start of the palate is also not conventional, doing a head-fake by making you think it’s going to be sweet but moving right into savory and umami. Darker earthy notes here with decaying vegetation (peat) and some hints of char through the middle. I didn’t mention the heavy barley presence but that’s a given. A good amount of white pepper and some baking spice come racing in at the end just to say they were there too. Finish is medium short, with a little more smoke, oak and spice rounding it out. This dram is a little darker (in experience) then the 2010 I just reviewed and those extra couple years show that it wants to be taken more serious and it does show up on the taste. Great whisky indeed.

Nose: immediately met with sweet notes vanilla cream, lemon meringue, pear, buttered waffle, and possibly a light note of mint. Digging deeper, you find layers of Islay funk consisting of light brine, damp moss and earth, with a distinct sage. Taste: initial burst of fresh black pepper and Islay funk (all the funk from the nose). Mid-palate shifts tones with the addition of sweeter notes including vanilla cream, waffle, pear, and lemon tart. The sweetness gradually tapers off into a lingering peppery earth. Final notes: just a classic example of the beauty that can be found in an unpeated Islay whisky. Bruichladdich already sets a standard with their Classic Laddie but their Islay Barley releases are rather unique derivatives. This is full of complexities that I'm sure I have not completely explored and I expect to find more as I continue to return back to this bottle. Returning to the nose after a sip is also rather refreshing because the sweeter qualities condense. Definitely a great whiskey that offers an enjoyably complex nose and taste. Disclaimer: If you cannot find the 2009 release anymore, consider just purchasing the Classic Laddie. I would say their profile is only 10-15% different with much of the core notes still being present in the Laddie. This happens to just be much sweeter.

Bruichladdich Islay Barley 50% abv, Non Chill Filtered and Natural Color   Bruichladdich Islay Barley is part 2 of the Wee Laddie tasting collection….I expect this to be better than the Classic Laddie which was a bit of a disappointment.  Let’s see how the Islay Barley compares.   The smell is sweet honey, malt, orange/lemon peel, burnt sugar and some flowers.  Really nice The taste is sea salt, vanilla, honey, spice, almond, apples and pears – just excellent. The finish is the same as the taste – all of the same sea salt, honey, vanilla and almond flavors are fading out.   Wow – this is really nice.  I was not expecting this at all.  It has an Old Pulteney feel to it which is always welcomed in this house.  Grab a bottle of this if you can.  I should be able to grab a bottle of this around $60.  It’s well worth it.   I will certainly grab a bottle of this next time out.  I can certainly see why Harrison Ford says this is his favorite Scotch.    Overall Grade: A