Bruichladdich Laddie Valinch No53 Fiona Glover

Nose - (without water) Pressed apple juice, light caramel, baked apple crisp (with water) Pressed fresh apple juice, more baked apple, barrel-aged dark apple cider Taste - (without water) Quite hot, baked apples, apple juice, fresh pressed ginger juice heat, baked apple crisp spice (with water) Muted heat, same flavors as without water but more balanced Finish - (without water) Lingering heat, baked apples, light metallic vibe, heat/tingle is like you took a bite of fresh out of the oven baked apple crisp & you just did the hoowahhoof thing (with water) Less heat, more drying, baked apples Score - 91/100 Final Thoughts - This was quite an interesting dram in that it was much much better than the Bourbon/Calvados Micro-Provenance bottle I personally have. This one was much more balanced with a much better, cleaner, more refreshing apple vibe to it. It was a bit on the desserty side, but not crazy sweet. I'm not sure if this was a finish or a full maturation, but this was quite good. Would I drink it if offered? - Yes Would I specifically order it? - Yes Would I buy a bottle? - Yes NOTE - All reviews are done without factoring in price.

Aroma: malty, salty, clear, and somewhat sweet. It's like the standard Laddie amplified. Taste: slightly out of balance and sharp at first, with sweetness appearing during the lengthy and somewhat disagreeable finish. Adding water causes grape notes to surge forward and overwhelm your senses. It's akin to a fortified wine mixed with Scotch. I don't believe this endeavor was successful. The aroma is quite captivating, but it's not at all well-integrated on the palate.