Bruichladdich Black Art 1990 04.1 Edition 23 Year

Purchased for about $30 USD (37.50 CAN) for 1 oz. at The Caledonian in Toronto around 2016. This was a great value, and the last I saw, they were sold out, as are all bottles in my vicinity. My hesitation to buy a bottle was that the closest store I knew of that stocked it was a 45-minute drive. If it were nearer, the $430 price would not be an issue. I had another ounce, and I even purchased a pour for a friend who was quite new to whisky. He summed up the experience well: “Wow. Fruity. Smooth. Salty. Wow. I didn’t realize whisky could be so smooth.” I suggested he let the full finish dissipate before taking another sip. After 10 minutes, he grew impatient and went outside to smoke. NOSE: Bruichladdich’s entire slogan is their belief in “terroir”, the people, and Islay. Enough already. Jim McEwen is thinking of France with this bottle. “La Marseillaise” comes to mind instantly when I smell the glass. You are hit with bordeux, cognac, and vermouth. Intense exotic fruitiness follows, and the music shifts to merengue. Papaya, guava jam, mangoes. Just when you believe you’ve drifted as far from Islay as possible, the brine returns you. Apparently, all those fancy sweet French cognacs are missing a bit of salt. PALATE: Heavenly. Your eyes roll back. Your toes curl. You can barely describe the arrival or the first sip; you must taste it again. The fruitiness is amazing and powerfully delivered by a thick, viscous, briny liquid. Strawberry jam, raisins, sultanas. This then shifts to figs and dates. Then you detect some nuttiness with almonds and cashews. Then it becomes sweet once more. What a journey! FINISH: Like a well-aged whisky, swallowing marks the start of the experience. The nose is revisited in the afterscent as vapors ascend from deep within the throat back into the nose. It’s cognac and sherry, with a pleasant warmth from the alcohol. I wouldn’t dare add water to tame this beast. Very gradually, there is a move towards more familiar notes; after several minutes, the taste dries out and saltiness takes over. Perhaps there's a trace, or just a recollection, of ash; maybe from the peaty gamma radiation from whatever nuclear malting methods Bruichladdich employs to create Octomore. VERDICT: This is not suited for a single malt purist, and is ideal for those who simply seek something that tastes incredible, and for those looking for something that represents single malt whisky. This is as French as it is Scottish. I have no objections. Jim McEwen has crafted the ultimate wine-finished whisky. If you find a bottle, and you enjoy wine finishes, purchase it. I hope the 5.1 is comparable. SCORE: 96/100.

Nose - Dark dried stone fruits, dark amber honey, a hint of saltiness, toasted brioche, milk chocolate. Palate - Dried cherries, strawberries, cranberries, freshly oiled/tanned leather, a touch of sea salt milk chocolate, faint fruity/medicinal honey, a lightly drying mouthfeel. Finish - Long, gently sweet fruit leather, mild warmth, a hint of sweet tobacco, a wisp of campfire smoke mingled with sea air, sweetness like cognac/port. Score - 94/100 Final Thoughts - I really appreciate the nose on this, with its well-balanced and not overpowering fruity, salty, chocolatey profile. It delivers on the nose's promises with a very harmonious taste. The subtle fruity/medicinal note is surprising, reminiscent of goji berries without the metallic edge. The transition to the finish leaves a pleasant warmth, like hot cocoa on a cold winter day. Although labeled unpeated, there's a faint whiff of distant campfire smoke, a nice touch. This strongly evokes Bunnahabhain 18, another favorite. If not for the price, I'd enjoy having this regularly.

Aged 23 years Non chill-filtered Natural color 49.2% abv Nose: Intense sweetness. Dark honey and maple syrup; chocolate; buttercream; a touch of oak; subtle dark fruit like plum, raisin, and raspberry; a whisper of spice, possibly cinnamon? Very intricate and develops in the glass over time. Palate: Remarkably rich and viscous! Abundant sweetness with raw honey, milk chocolate, and light caramel. Flavors emerge in stages: coffee bean, luscious dark red fruit, a hint of herbs, citrus/tropical notes, and well-integrated oak. It's quite a journey. Finish: A lengthy one, with chocolate-covered dark cherries, hazelnut, caramel/toffee, a slight saltiness, and a touch of mint. Value: Approximately $400 USD. Well worth it! Concluding thoughts: An extraordinary whisky! This is a rare find, and fortunately, still reasonably accessible as of September 2019. The intricate nature of this dram makes each sip an exploration of flavors. Don't overlook it, even with the high cost... it might just be your preferred unpeated single malt. Final score: 5/5 Buy immediately! Malt musing: “When you drank the world was still out there, but for a moment it didn’t have you by the throat.” - A quote

I found the Dalmore Cigarinoff to be decent, rating it four stars. This one immediately earns five stars from the first taste. I've spent more on less satisfying spirits. It shares similarities with a fine Glendronach, though it's sweeter and has different elements than typical oloroso or PX sherry cask finishes. The nose and palate are packed with raisins and dark fruit. There's a complexity beyond my full understanding, with Sauternes influence evident throughout, offering rich, cognac-like notes. I previously considered a certain distillery overrated, with many of their offerings lacking depth. Even their higher-end range strikes me as overpriced and thin, though still rated well (before anyone objects:-) ), missing the richness of other Islay whiskies. However, this particular dram possesses significant viscosity and richness. The 49.2% alcohol is perfectly balanced. It would be an instant five, but I find it slightly too sweet and syrupy as I continue to drink it, placing it closer to 4.5, perhaps a bit less. Nevertheless, it's very enjoyable and definitely a five, not a four. It's one of those odd situations where I recommend it as a must-buy, yet I personally wouldn't repurchase it due to the syrupy sweetness.

Nose: blueberry, peaches and cream, honey, toasted bread, tropical sea breezes, lemon zest. Taste: sweet honey, citrus, salt and pepper, cinnamon rolls. Experience: It's like wandering through an outdoor market on a cool spring morning, with sweet and zesty scents in the air, just a touch of salt. Standing in the sun, you can feel its warmth through the crisp air. Everything feels vibrant and in renewal, constantly shifting as the day progresses. Final thoughts: I generally believe no whiskey is worth over $100, as you can typically find comparable alternatives for less (around $70 is ideal). However, nothing compares to this, and it's one of the few spirits I'd deem “worth” the price. It's a remarkable bottle, as complex as it is enjoyable. A rare find, but if you see it, grab it. *This is from the previous distiller. While the newer versions are still excellent, they lack the same “magic.” Still a solid choice if you have the funds.

While not every note appeals, the craftsmanship is undeniable. This dram is a profound departure from peated and smoky profiles, offering a complex sensory experience. The aroma presents spices, lavender, sherry, and citrus. The palate surprisingly includes mushrooms, subtle pineapple, chocolate, and Chinese five spice. The finish is malty with a hint of chocolate fudge. It's an extensive, albeit rewarding, exploration akin to reading a lengthy novel. A sample from a friend made this possible.