Bruichladdich 18 Year Re/Define

Number 8 on the countdown to 300, and we're moving into the realm of older expressions. Leading the way is the fairly recently launched Bruichladdich 18 re/define. Matured on Islay, the whisky spent most of its time in bourbon casks, with a smaller portion in Sauternes and Port casks. It was vatted and married for nine months before being bottled at a substantial 50% ABV, with no added color or chill filtration. I'm looking forward to this dram; Bruichladdich is likely among my top four favorite distilleries, and this expression seems to have been lightly influenced by two of my preferred cask types. I'm ready. Nose: A little intense straight from the bottle. Let me give it five minutes... O.K., where were we? That's better; all the harsh alcohol presence is gone. This is wonderfully light and fragrant. Lightly honied malt, fresh hay, peach, vanilla, coconut (reminiscent of Malibu Rum), a subtle minerality joins some faint pencil shavings. The longer I spend with it, the more I'm convinced of creme brûlée and the firm crunch of brown sugar. Palate: Decadently velvety, creamy, and slightly waxy simultaneously. Subtle peach underlies honied malt, with a tropical sensation that is bright, juicy, and vibrant. The oak influence becomes slightly buttery with a warm and rich porridge-like characteristic. 'Green' winey notes of honeysuckle, gooseberry, and melon add a lovely crispness. The port cask influence is just noticeable as an enveloping leathery quality that suggests richness beneath the perfectly light summer profile. Finish: Deceptively long. It might seem short at first, with green winey notes fading as brighter tropical notes emerge and then disappear. But then, a surprising shift with stony minerality, a flash of cracked pepper, and a hint of jasmine(?) tea. At 50% ABV, there might be more to uncover. I've taken a chance and added a single drop of water to the remaining half dram... it integrated quickly. The nose opens up to tropical fruits, possibly guava and lychee, the palate reveals a solid toasted pastry character, and the finish builds on the sensation of pebbles in the hot sun. I don't need to say much more, do I? Bruichladdich are masters of their craft. If I could find this locally, $330 would be well worth it. What a fantastic evening treat. My only real criticism is the slight harshness of the alcohol; is it possible to have a young 18-year-old? That's perhaps what this feels like. Distillery spirit review #293 [Pictured here with a piece of Preseli Bluestone from the Preseli Hills of Pembrokeshire in West Wales. Bluestone is a general term for all the 'foreign' and 'exotic' rocks at the prehistoric monument Stonehenge in Wiltshire, England. Although approximately twenty distinct rock types are represented at Stonehenge, one of the most common is the 'Preseli Spotted Dolerite' or Preseli Bluestone. Dolerites are igneous rocks, essentially identical to basalt but with slightly larger crystals. The Preseli Spotted Dolerite is characterized by clusters of secondary minerals that have replaced the original plagioclase feldspar. The rock's slightly greyish-green-blue color is a result of low-grade metamorphism that partly altered the original mineralogy to chlorite and epidote.] Bruichladdich running scores Classic Laddie: 4/5 Bruichladdich 18 re/define: 4.75/5 Black Art 10.1 29 y/o: 5/5 Port Charlotte 10: 4.5/5 Port Charlotte CC:01: 5/5

The viscosity in the glass suggests age; when left undisturbed, very subtle bubbles ascend the sides, and a vigorous swirl leaves thick, enduring legs that persist for minutes. It looks appealing, but what of the aroma? The scent is misleading. I'm typically adept at identifying a Bruichladdich by its smell, yet this could easily be mistaken for numerous other fine single malts, or even its Irish counterparts across the water. I detect notes of hay, honeysuckle, and the scent inside an empty Milk Duds box. Subsequent sniffs reveal little more, and the expected lemon oil is notably absent. The taste is warm and rich, with the honey from the aroma briefly leading before being overwhelmed by a host of semi-sweet fruits. Pear, white grapes, and dragon fruit dominate the mid-palate through the finish, where subtle oak spice and a faint salinity emerge to temper the sweetness and rebalance the experience for the next surge of flavor. It's here that I finally perceive a Bruichladdich characteristic – its remarkable equilibrium. In sum, it's a pleasant, comforting, understated spirit that would likely appeal to most whisky enthusiasts. Two minor points, and one more significant concern warrant further consideration. Firstly, the honey on the nose and initially on the palate is its strongest aspect, yet it fades quickly in both instances. Secondly, for an 18-year-old expression, the alcoholic warmth is surprisingly pronounced. I acknowledge the 50% ABV, but in my experience, such heat typically subsides by 12-14 years, and this spirit has had considerably more time. One major disagreement: While this is a commendable dram, many other Scotches, regardless of age or price, could also be described as such. Ultimately, I believe this is where it falters slightly – it lacks distinguishing features compared to other 'good' Scotches, and there's no clear connection to the distillery that demonstrates advancement within their product line. It could just as plausibly be from Arran, Dalwhinnie, or Cardhu. As a distillery manager, regardless of consumer preference, I would be concerned about losing that brand identity, particularly in a staple product.

Nose: Sharp vanilla, light honey, light malt, pumpkin spice, maraschino cherry, a hint of salinity, toasted sweet bread, green apple peel, traces of butterscotch, and a sharp spirited note. Palate: Rich honey, vanilla, barley sugar, malt, clove, cinnamon, mild barrel char smoke, umami, white fruits, musty floral notes, a full oily body, and a long finish. To be perfectly honest, I'm a bit let down by this one. I was expecting a more complex whiskey. The influence of the Sauternes and port casks is barely perceptible on the palate, which is disappointing for me as I was particularly eager for those barrel influences to be more prominent. It drinks more like a significantly more mature classic laddie, offering fullness, maltiness, vanilla, and some salinity. This is only my initial tasting, so hopefully, it will evolve and improve with more time.

Complex, malty, with a variety of ripe fruits from tropical to dark berries, spice, vanilla, powdered sugar, some dark caramel, and a slight tannic quality at the end. The wine cask influence is subtle, not overpowering as is often the case with Scotch. They add delicate layers of complexity to the already delightful bourbon-aged spirit. While I've liked the Classic Laddie, I always felt something was missing. This is the complete Laddie. An excellent 18-year-old Islay single malt bottled at 50% for $149 USD. Well done, Bruichladdich! If they maintain this as a core offering at this price point, it will become one of the few official bottlings I consistently keep on hand.

This new Bruichladdich presents an almost flawless blend of woody vanilla and spice characteristics. The casks were meticulously chosen to emphasize these combined flavors. At 50% ABV, it feels smooth and savory due to the limousine cask malts employed. Adding just a few drops of water and letting it sit at room temperature truly amplifies the malt's flavors. The port spice notes are subtle, emerging near the end to provide a satisfying conclusion. While not exceedingly complex, it achieves an excellent balance and harmony for an 18-year-old single malt. It's among the best I've sampled in its age category.

A treat for myself. Nose: Sweet with notes of vanilla and honey, very inviting, with good maltiness and fruitiness. Palate: More honey, a mix of spices like clove, a good blend of light fruits such as pear and apple. Good mouthfeel overall. Finish: More maltiness with nuttiness, surprisingly smooth for a 100 proof spirit. Overall, it's very good as anticipated from Bruichladdich, but I'm not convinced it justifies the price.