Bruichladdich Bere Barley 2008

Rating: 17/23 Nose: A rich, earthy graininess is present. I can detect the terroir here; it's quite pleasing. There's a subtle hint of sweet tangerine peel alongside a light caramel aroma, similar to Buffalo Trace but not dominant. Floral notes transition to mild vanilla, then to dry wood. Citrus notes appear and disappear. Some pleasant, restrained herbal and vegetal whiffs emerge from the terroir. A rather intriguing nose. It's not the most decadent and requires some effort to discern everything, but there's a lot going on, and it all harmonizes well. It doesn't present as extremely aged, but the balance is good. Palate: Surprisingly potent. Fruity (apricot, tangerine, citron, lemon, a touch of grapefruit) with that signature Buffalo Trace dry caramel sweetness. Some herbal bitterness and richness, along with a chocolate note, suggest peat, which is interesting as it's unpeated. It has nutty and toasty aspects at times. It's not the pronounced buckwheat nuttiness, but it blends nicely with the maltiness. An interesting waxy character emerges, more so than in Clynelish. There's also a youthful yet robust malty quality that reminds me of Copperworks. I'm struggling to describe it, but something clicks. Perhaps a faint sherry-cherry note contributes to this. There's more warmth (though not harshness) than anticipated, along with a slight alcohol presence. A look at the label reveals it's 50% ABV, which makes sense. There's a touch of sharpness in places suggesting youth, but it's minimal. The complexity, depth, and balance are all quite good. It evokes a blend of Buffalo Trace, Clynelish, and Copperworks, with a unique terroir influence. It's fascinating and truly excellent. Finish: The Buffalo Trace flavor is upfront, followed by an unobtrusive herbal, lightly vegetal, slightly chocolatey, peat-like note. Very enjoyable; a satisfying, indulgent finish. - Conclusion - This surpasses Bruichladdich Organic Barley 2009 (14) and even rivals Loch Lomond 12 (16) with its enhanced complexity. It's at least on par with Loch Lomond 12. I'd score it a 16 or 17. It's remarkably impressive, especially for a young spirit. Bruichladdich Islay Barley 2010 (16) comes close with its captivating peat flavor, but this is my favorite among the Bruichladdich barley experiments. I'm settling on a 17. It's incredibly impressive for its age and, frankly, impressive overall. I would be eager to sample an older expression. Actually, I'm now considering an 18. This is exceptional. For a last-minute comparison, I sampled Glen Grant 18 and Cárn Mór's Glen Grant 26 (1992). This was highly competitive with both. Currently, I might prefer this over either, suggesting an 18, but I recall it being slightly rough, so a 17 still seems most appropriate.

The nose starts with an effervescent mix of lemon lime soda, gooseberries and tangerine orange then slightly charred hay, vanilla custard and a seaside rocky minerality followed by cinnamon apple streusel, kiwi and caramelized peaches that transitions to light baking spices, candied ginger and driftwood with low ethanol burn. The taste is a medium mouthfeel starting with a moderate spice that slowly fades to caramelized peaches, gooseberries and lemon lime zests then lightly charred hay, orange custard and a seaside rocky minerality followed by sour apple candy, cherries jubilee and red grapefruit that transitions to light baking spices, candied ginger, leather and polished oak with medium ethanol burn. The finish is medium length with sweet creamy orchard fruit, charred hay, mild pepper spice, seaside rocky minerality, leather and polished oak. This is an easy sipping and refreshing dram that the flavors are subtle with a mix of sweet and sour citrus, light smoke, seaside minerality and oak spice that are incredibly well-balanced but suffers from a slight astringency and moderate spice. I’d be interested in tasting this in a few years with some additional age to hopefully polish out those sour fruits and intensify the flavors, as this is already very tasty at just 8 years and could be incredible with just some additional time. Thanks to a friend for the generous sample.

To celebrate Robert Burns day, I felt I should have a few drinks tonight, and what better way than to review three offerings from Bruichladdich. I got a 3x200ml gift pack for Christmas with 2008/09/10 barley expressions. Let's get started. The nose on this '08 bottling is invigorating and bright. Stone fruits, lemon zest, and orange peel are the primary scents here, but they dance around my senses as if I had just dropped an Alka-Seltzer in the glass. Quite whimsical indeed. The palate is much more serious than the nose, hitting me with substantial malt and spice, reminiscent of a high-proof American rye. We are clearly skipping the early stages here. The spice subsides to reveal more char and salty, briny, almost meaty flavors. The finish is medium-long, with the richness from the mouthfeel lingering and keeping you warm for longer than expected. This is what should be in those St. Bernard casks in the Alps, if it isn't already. Exploring these three barley expressions was a wonderful way to spend Burns' night. I typically expect age to mellow a whisky, but with this, the oldest sibling is clearly still the most rugged. A fantastic whisky if you can find it.

Nose: Dried apples, fresh pears, floral notes, a touch of sea air, a hint of grass, and golden raisins that have been steeped in Riesling. Palate: Mildly oaked grape and apple juice with a subtle bitterness from apple and pear skins, along with a peppery spice. Finish: An enduring peppery spice and a subtly bittersweet apple/pear juice crafted from cores. Score: 86/100 Overall: This offering is somewhat regrettable, as the aroma suggested a far richer experience than the taste provided. The nose was excellent, but the palate felt a bit simplistic. It's enjoyable on its own, though perhaps not as impactful as the initial scent. It's excellent served neat, but I imagine its slightly higher alcohol content would complement a cocktail like a Blood and Sand well.

Quite harsh straight, but it significantly improves with a small addition of water. Extremely smooth! Flavors of fruit, honey, and vanilla with a pleasant, mellow finish.

Robust, full-bodied, intricate, with notes of barley, spice, and honey. With added water: citrus, lime beverage, mint, fresh, brown sugar sweetness, and spice.