60,9°
Distillery : Bruichladdich - Islay
1st Fill Sherry Hogshead
Independent Bottling
By Archives
Limited Edition
Single Cask
Bottled in 2019
Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength
Totally Unpeated
Founded by Whiskybase.com in 2011, when they opened their shop, Archives has produced half a dozen bottlings displaying the Bruichladdich brand. This one is the second oldest, yet it appears to have undergone exactly the same maturation as its elder, in a first-fill Sherry cask. I suspect a Pedro Ximénez cask. It is part of The Fishes of Samoa range, which features a different fish from this archipelago on each label. 230 bottles were produced and sold out very quickly.
Let's Taste It :
Very dense, deep sherry, dark, black earth, rich and wet. Pungent red fruits, gooseberry and blackcurrant, wine lees, hot chestnuts, charcoal, thorny wood. Water gives it a lovely breadth, bringing out the cereals and a touch of iodine. A forest in autumn, on a humid day. Mushrooms, moss and soggy leaves. On the palate, it's much fruitier, syrupy, liquorous. Crushed fruits, blueberries, blackberries, morello cherries. Intense, vinous spices, paprika, cardamom, cumin. Very long, intense finish, burnt caramel, heather earth, black tea. The fruits are now cooked. Tart. A hint of fuel oil. Very slight bitterness from the wood at the end.
In Short,
Like its big sister distilled in 2001, this is an outstanding bottling. The Sherry is very deep and expressive. The distillery hallmarks are very discreet, but add depth to the whole. It's magnificent. Of course, I'd love to say that this little thing can be found very easily in any liquor store at a low price, but that's not the case. In fact, it's best to forget about it.
Score : 91
To Be Listened While Sipping :
Villagers of Ioaninna City - Father Sun
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