Bruichladdich Links Review

Country: Scotland

Region: Islay

Brand: Bruichladdich Links

Type: Single Malt Whisky

Age: NAS (*14 Years according to the Distillery)

ABV: 46 %

Date: 08/07/2013

Colour: Light Amber

Nose: Sweet-Sour with Balsamic Cream, Exotic Fruit Cocktail, Condensed Milk, Sherry, Oak, Earth (Light Peat), Leather, Floral Tones, Raisins, Nuts, Orange Peel, Brown Sugar and some light Spices. When I opened the miniature I found a slightly unpleasant Cooked Vegetables Aroma but that was gone the next day so I won't consider it for the rating.

Taste: Sour Grapes and Apples, Orange Peel, Nut Casks and Roasted Nuts, light Peat, slightly Bitter Oak, Cocoa Powder, Pepper, Mint, Malt and hints of Sherry and Leather.

Finish: Middle-Long with slightly Bitter Oak, Leather, Malt, Cocoa, Pepper, light Peat, hints of Smoke and Ashes, Citrus and some Sour Sherry.

I added a few drops of Water and that reinforces Malt, Buttered Toast, Peat, Honey and Passion-Fruit on the Nose. Palate and Finish don't benefit from the added Water. 

Rating: 82.5

Nose: 21 - Taste: 20.5 - Finish: 20.5 - Overall: 20.5

General Remarks: The Bruichladdich distillery is located on the shore of Loch Indaal on the Rhinns of the isle of Islay. It was founded in 1881 by the Harvey Brothers and closed in 1994. In 2000 it was bought by a group of private investors (including Mark Reynier) and the whole distillery was dismantled and reassembled in 2001. It was sold in 2012 to Remy Cointreau. 

The Bruichladdich Links series was released in 2003. The Tins and Labels showed a number of famous Golf Courses painted by Graham Baxter. Each release numbered less than 18.000 bottles. The Links is naturally coloured and has not been chill-filtered. Since June 2012 it's no longer officially available although you might find miniatures here and there. The miniature I'm tasting today shows Old St. Andrews Golf Course, Fife, Scotland, one of the oldest golf courses in the world  It was founded in 1552, has 18 holes and Par was set at 72. The Links St. Andrews  matured in Casks of Spanish Oak.

Drinking Experience Neat: Good

Conclusion: An almost Syrupy Sweet-Sour Exotic Fruit Cocktail on the Nose is followed by Sour Fruit and slightly Bitter Oak on the Palate and in the Finish. Not the best of casks I suspect. It's not a bad Single Malt but you don't have to wake me up for this in the middle of the night. Still, I'm not a bad guy so I will put a Link to this whisky on my site anyway!

Jan van den Ende                                                                   July 2013

Hole # 17 (The Road Hole)