Brand
Bruichladdich
Age
25 years old
Expression
1990 Sherry Cask Edition
Whisky type
Single Malt
Distillery
Bruichladdich Distillery
Origin
Islay, Scotland
Year distilled
1990
ABV.
48.10%
Source
Bruichladdich
In collection

Review by Bruichladdich

Colour

Date syrup

Nose

The nose opens dramatically with raisin, dates, figs and apricot, dried in the Mediterranean sun. A remarkable opening for the next wave of Turkish delight and marzipan fused with vanilla, date syrup and prune. The sweetness is exaggerated with a malted barley sugar note. The flavours remind you of Christmas cake and yet there is a sunny late summer quality about this dram rather than winter comforts. Layered underneath the strong Jerez influence are gentle fruit notes present in the spirit since the day it flowed from the stills,

Palate

The palate is complex and deep, the full bodied texture will take time to release its full array of flavours and subtleties. But after 25 years in the making, you can afford a little time to savour this one. As the silky-smooth liquid settles on your tongue there is a heartwarming moment as the flavours released begin to tell the tale of the journey of the spirit to the bottle. The rich, dried fruit flavours with tobacco and leather notes of Jerez tell their story first before the Bordeaux oak offers its creamy vanilla sweetness and dusting of demerara sugar.

Finish

Like an Autumn sunset its finish is long and vivid. The remarkable balance from the selection of casks has allowed a medley of flavours to come together in harmony, there is a deft balance. Close your eyes and revel in this lavish, opulent and multi-layered expression.

Conclusion

This spirit of which we are so proud has been treated with special care and extra attention to ensure we gain the best of the casks. The Spanish accent of rich dried fruit and pipe tobacco does not overpower the delicate spirit of Bruichladdich; instead a striking balance is on show.

Note

WE HAVE CRAFTED THIS EXOTIC, COMPLEX DRAM WITH PROFOUND SHERRY INFLUENCE BASED ON OUR LONG-STANDING COLLABORATION WITH JAN PETTERSEN, A BRILLIANT AND INNOVATIVE WINEMAKER FROM THE INFLUENTIAL BODEGA OF FERNANDO DE CASTILLA IN JEREZ.

Sherry casks are highly prized for the unctuous, raisiny flavours they impart to maturing Scotch whisky. However, changes in regulations have meant that Spanish Sherries are now bottled at the Bodega, meaning that genuine Sherry casks have become increasingly rare. At Bruichladdich, we refuse to use inferior quality wood that has simply been ‘flavoured’ by exposure to poor quality Sherry (sadly a widespread industry practice).

Breaking industry conventions, neither the House of Bruichladdich nor Bodega Fernando de Castilla bow before simplistic age statements, or strip the natural character from our liquids.

Jan has provided the genuine Oloroso and Pedro Ximinez casks used by Bruichladdich during the final years of the journey along which this exceptional whisky has travelled.

The original spirit, distilled in 1990, has since taken two intriguing paths.

Batch one: refill Bourbon cask, 17 years; Bordeaux Grand Cru cask, 5 years; Pedro Ximinez sherry cask, 4 years.

Batch two: refill sherry butt, 18 years; Oloroso sherry cask, 7 years.

This is whisky with life experience, that has been on a journey, finessed by Head Distiller Adam Hannett into a rare, rich and complex Islay whisky.

Source: Bruichladdich