Bruichladdich 2013 Islay Barley 8 yo

 

 

 

50°

Distillery : Bruichladdich - Islay

American Bourbon and French Wine Casks

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2021

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

This is apparently the eleventh edition of this annual limited bottling, launched for the first time on the occasion of Feis Ile 2010. It is a whisky made entirely on the island of Islay, from the barley harvest to the bottling. Except the malting which is done in Inverness. For this Batch, seven local farms were involved, as well as French wine casks. The aging lasted 8 years, which is probably the longest for the Islay Barley. The number of bottles produced is not known.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Very farmy, with ripe wheat, hay, straw. Young wood. Vanilla and pastry cream, genoise. A drop of caramel, a touch of iodine and salt, sea breeze. On the palate, it's more fruity, white plums and bananas, even more from the orchard, yellow apples and a pear or two. Lemon zest. The spices appear quickly, they are a bit strong, cloves, cumin, nutmeg, then the finish, quite long, woody. Back to the farm, but this time it's more earthy, bushes, heather. Coco.  

 

In Short, 

This is the 3rd Islay Barley I taste, and I think the quality is improving. The wine casks bring more fruit, the longer maturation makes the whole more solid and harmonious. Prices have increased, however, but it's the same everywhere. I recommend waiting for a promotion to get one.

Score : 86

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           The Head and the Heart - Down in the Valley