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About this bottle
This bottling, one of two created for the 2022 Fèis Ìle (Islay Fest), is a blend of the three single malt styles produced at Bruichladdich using 100% Islay-grown barley from various vintages. It incorporates their standard unpeated Bruichladdich, the heavily peated Port Charlotte, and the super heavily peated Octomore. The whiskies were aged in ex-bourbon barrels and bottled at 100 proof.
Reviews
Showing the most detailed of 3 parsed reviews.
MMarilyn Holloway4.3
Burnished hue. Swirling reveals a thin film clinging to the glass, with slow-forming legs.
Nose: Very sweet, with notes of vanilla, pineapple, birthday cake, and hay.
Palate: Continues with vanilla, a hint of smoke, oak spice, and some orange citrus.
Finish: Medium length. Black pepper appears alongside the citrus, gradually fading to salt and wood.
With Water:
A drop enhances the sweetness on the palate, though its exact source is unclear.
Total: The alcohol content is very well integrated, complementing the flavors without an overwhelming burn. Enjoyable to sample the Fèis Ìle releases; while a fine dram, the cost makes repurchasing a full bottle unlikely.
Would recommend: maybe
Would buy: no
NNoemi Quezada3.3
Nose - Typical Bruichladdich "lactic funk," sea spray, ripe sweet cheese rind, strangely warm, generic citrus peel, mild smoke
Taste - Mild smoke, sea spray, lactic funk, white pepper heat/tingle, seaweed on a bonfire, chilled smoked apple slices, pickled lemon zest
Finish - Mild lingering salt, sweet lactic funk, light generic citrus peel, white pepper tingle remains
Score - 79/100
Final Thoughts - The aroma suggested a very lightly peated whisky, slightly less than a Port Charlotte, so this seemed predominantly Bruichladdich, though it's hard to be certain. It presented as classic Bruichladdich but felt somewhat one-dimensional, as if older components were overshadowed by younger ones. The nose was quite pleasant, yet it also felt oddly intense. It possessed the signature Bruichladdich "lactic funk" sweetness and pleasant salinity I often detect, but little else stood out. This might explain my preference for sherry or wine-finished Bruichladdich bottlings, which I find enhance the spirit beautifully through their cask influence. At its core, this was classic Bruichladdich, but it ultimately fell a bit short for me.
Would I drink it if offered? - Possibly
Would I specifically order it? - No
Would I buy a bottle? - No
NOTE - Price is not considered in any reviews.
