Bruichladdie

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Bruichladdich The Organic Single Malt Scotch Whisky. Islay, Scotland. ABV: 46.00%. Tasted at Laneway Lounge, $16.

Colour: Very pale straw. Not that colour really matters, as I’ve quickly learnt.

Nose: A bit of oak, hint of smoke.

Palate: Sweet spice, a bit more oak. Not a strong flavour – quite subtle.

Finish: Spicy aftertaste without being fiery. Medium length.

Comments: Overall, it was ok; a decent drop. Quite pleasant to drink but nothing that really stands out and makes you go “Wow, this is so much better than the other Bruichladdies”. The fact that it’s organic? Really, who gives a toss – I choose my whisky because I enjoy the flavours, aromas etc., not because it’s been produced organically.

It’s by no means a bad drop (in fact it’s eminently drinkable!), but you can’t help but feel that it’s perhaps a bit of the marketing department suggesting it be produced to fill a (non-existent) niche in the market.

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Bruichladdich The Laddie Ten Unpeated 10 Year Old Single Malt. Islay, Scotland. ABV: 46.00%.  Tasted at Whisky a Day HQ, $67.85.

Colour: Deep goldy amber.

Nose: Struggled to pick this one. At this time of night I’d struggle to even pick a dirty nose!

Palate: Briney, hints of peat even though it’s ‘unpeated’. Could even be described as a bit vinegary, but not in a bad way. More like a caramelised balsamic vinegar, with a balance of saltiness and subtle sweetness.

Finish: Has a bit of heat & intensity, medium length.

Comments: As my good mate Kiwi remarked, it was smoother than my entrance to the dance floor last night. To be fair, almost any whisky, moonshine or paint stripper would still have been smoother than my dance moves. Nevertheless, a great drop and one I look forward to having again very soon.

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Bruichladdie, The Laddie Sixteen.  Islay, Scotland.  ABV: 46%. Halcyon Bar, $16.

Colour: Deep gold

Nose: Smooth, hints of oak.

Palate: Quite a clean taste. Salty notes, picked up flavours of muscatelles. My good mate Giles got tastes of “candied elderflower”, to which I detected “scents of wankerbreath”.

Finish: Quite smooth, short finish on the front palette.

Comments: If you put your ear to the glass you can almost hear the waves crashing on the beach at Islay…not quite, but it sounded wanky enough for your stereotypical whisky review! Unpeated, so quite different to most other Islays I’ve tried.