“It's Not Right but It's Okay”
Whisky Review # 1026
Region: Islay
Brand: Bruichladdich - Distilled 1985
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky - Bottled 2005
Age: 20 Years - Third Edition
Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 46%
Maturation: Ex-Bourbon casks with short Malmsey Madeira Hogshead Finish
Chill Filtration: No
Maturation: Ex-Bourbon casks with short Malmsey Madeira Hogshead Finish
Chill Filtration: No
Average Price: US$ 210-240 (July 2024)
Price/Quality Ratio: 😒 Quite expensive for what it offers
Price/Quality Ratio: 😒 Quite expensive for what it offers
Buying Advice: 😐 Simply Okay is not good enough for me at this price level
Color:
Amber with shades of Orange (Natural Color)
Nose:
Nose:
Sweet and Sour Fruit with a touch of coastal Peat/Smoke in the background. The Alcohol is well-integrated. The short Sweet Madeira finish certainly made its mark. Quite enjoyable.
Main Aromas:
Sweet Barley, Salted Toffee, slightly Sour Red Berries, Cherries and Plums, Dried Fruit like Prunes, Raisins, Dates and Figs, Red Wine, Milk Chocolate, Wet Stones & Sand, Dusty Oak, Marzipan and Cinnamon Rolls.
Supportive Aroma Accents:
Honey, Buttered Toast, Caramel, Vanilla, Yeast, Resin, Banana Bread, Citrus like Orange and Lemon, Green Apple, Campfire Smoke, Dirty Earth, Salted Almonds, Dried Herbs, Tobacco and White Pepper.
Honey, Buttered Toast, Caramel, Vanilla, Yeast, Resin, Banana Bread, Citrus like Orange and Lemon, Green Apple, Campfire Smoke, Dirty Earth, Salted Almonds, Dried Herbs, Tobacco and White Pepper.
Palate:
A pleasant but unremarkable mix of Sweet, Sour, Bitter and Salty notes. Lots of Fruit, Nougat and Herbs.
Main Flavours:
A pleasant but unremarkable mix of Sweet, Sour, Bitter and Salty notes. Lots of Fruit, Nougat and Herbs.
Main Flavours:
Sweet Barley, Salted Caramel, slightly Sour Red Wine, Red Berries, Cherries and Plums, Nougat, Dried Fruit like Raisins, Plums & Apricots, Citrus (Orange/Lemon), Dried Herbs, Dusty Oak, Pepper, Nutmeg and Cinnamon.
Supportive Flavour Accents:
Honey, Vanilla, Marzipan, Green Apple, Nectarine, Butter Scotch-Chocolate, Yeast, Resin, Wet Rocks, Tobacco, Leather, Cloves, Espresso and a hint of Peat-smoke.
Finish:
On the short side for a 20 Year old Single Malt. Sweet and Sour notes at first but with increasing Bitterness towards the Medium-Dry end. The Alcohol is noticeable at this point. I find Sweet Barley, Salted Caramel, Vanilla, Resin, Yeast, Slightly Sour Red Wine, Red Berries and Cherries, Nougat, Chocolate, Citrus, Dried Herbs, Dusty Oak, Tobacco, Pepper, Cinnamon, Cloves and a touch of Peat-smoke. A light Metallic note after a while.
On the short side for a 20 Year old Single Malt. Sweet and Sour notes at first but with increasing Bitterness towards the Medium-Dry end. The Alcohol is noticeable at this point. I find Sweet Barley, Salted Caramel, Vanilla, Resin, Yeast, Slightly Sour Red Wine, Red Berries and Cherries, Nougat, Chocolate, Citrus, Dried Herbs, Dusty Oak, Tobacco, Pepper, Cinnamon, Cloves and a touch of Peat-smoke. A light Metallic note after a while.
Drinking Advice:
A little added Water is nice on the Palate but wipes out the Finish. A few drops will do here.
Rating: 7.5 (*******1/2)
Nose: 8 - Taste: 7.5 - Finish: 7
*** Important Note with respect to Rating.
If the Final score is 8 or higher you can safely buy the whisky in question if and when it fits your Aroma/Flavor profile. If the score is between 6 and 8 you might want to try it out in the form of a sample or if offered at a good price. Anything below 6 should be left alone when you are looking for a nice sipping whisky. You might still like it of course & I realize pricing is an important item for many whisky fans especially when you are used to enjoy whisky in a cocktail or a mixed drink.
Drinking Experience Neat: Good
Conclusion:
Bruichladdich was founded in 1881 by Barnett Harvey. During its history it was mothballed various times, the last time in 1998. In 2012 the Islay distillery was bought by Remy Cointreau (France). Since, Bruichladdich is showing a healthy growth again. The distillery produces 3 types of Single Malt, i.e. the unpeated Bruichladdich & the heavily peated Port Charlotte & Octomore. The basic core range includes the Classic Laddie and a 10-year old Port Charlotte. The annual production amounts to around 1.4 million litres.
This 20-year old Bruichladdich is not an easy one to review. The Nose is okay but the Palate is unremarkable and the Finish is very Short. Don't get me wrong, this Bruichladdich is not a bad Single Malt. But a 20 Year old Single Malt that will set you back at least US$ 200 should be a dram you'll never forget! But my ink is not dry yet and I've already forgotten this Third Edition. And that's not just my age! 😜
Cheers 🥃
