Octomore OBA Redux Rock'Ndaal 05.2 Feis Ile 2026

 

 

 

54,2°

Distillery : Bruichladdich - Islay

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2026

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Heavily Peated

 

 

 

In honour of Feis Ile 2026, the distillery has launched this new release, about which very little is known. It’s the OBA concept – Octomore Black Art – where you’re not supposed to know anything about the bottle’s contents, neither the age, nor the maturation, nor the blend. And this lack of transparency is presented as a selling point. The most surprising thing is that it works, the bottles flew off the shelves, and now it’s sold out, with prices on the secondary market reaching dizzying heights. I’d also love someone to explain the significance of the code number 05.2 to me. 2,500 bottles were released onto the market. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Creamy honey, very ripe mirabelle plums, mineral notes, iodine, prickly pears, white grapes, candied bananas, it’s beautifully full-bodied. Vicks Vaporub ointment, ether, the peat is powerful, almost suffocating, yet it leaves room to breathe. Rich cereals, a hint of lemon zest, green apples. On the palate, it’s very well-balanced at first, juicy pears and lychees, followed by quite strong spices, cloves and pepper, a pinch of charcoal, generous vanilla. A very long finish, blond tobacco, brown sugar, not too overpowering, almonds, egg yolk, more honey, fried apple fritters, light woodiness, tinder leaf, a touch of acidity.

 

In Short, 

You have to admit it’s excellent, and even a little more than that. It’s of a very high standard, although it’s true that my rating is a tad generous. Since we know nothing about this elixir, I’m going to play along a bit and try to imagine. As for the age, I’d say it’s older than a classic Octomore because the peat isn’t very strong, let’s say 8 to 11 years. The profile reminded me of the 10.2 and 06.2 editions, so I’d say there are Bourbon casks, but also sweet white wine casks, perhaps Sauternes, or even brandy, though that last possibility seems unlikely to me. Probably Bourbon and white wine, perhaps a few virgin casks. In any case, that’s what it reminds me of. The price has reached astronomical heights, everyone’s clamouring to guess what it really is, it seems to me that the distillery’s marketing department has achieved its objectives. 

Score : 91 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                    To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                                    Chelsea Wolfe - Death Is Not The End

Bruichladdich 14 yo Yellow Submarine [Reclassified]

 

 

 

54,2°

Distillery : Bruichladdich - Islay

1st Fill Bourbon and French Red Wine Casks

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2026

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured 

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

It has now been a quarter of a century since the Bruichladdich distillery reopened, and we cannot emphasise enough what a miracle this reopening is, and what an exceptionally bold undertaking it was. To celebrate this momentous occasion in the history of whisky and this success, there is nothing quite like reviving one of the distillery’s most legendary bottlings: the Yellow Submarine. Originally released in 2005 to welcome a Royal Navy contingent who had come to retrieve a mysterious yellow submarine that had run aground off the coast of Islay, it was reissued several times in the following years, then revived for the first time in 2018 with a truly epic 25-year-old expression that has gone down in history. This one is only 14 years old, like the first editions, it is matured in Bourbon and French red wine casks, and 12,000 bottles have been produced. Bottling took place in late March 2026, which is why I am almost certain that distillation took place in late 2011. It is slightly diluted and subtitled ‘Whisky of Mass Distinction IV’, a play on the acronym WMD, which usually stands for ‘Weapon of Mass Destruction’. It was released to mark Feis Ile 2026, but is available in many shops these days. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Vanilla and honey, egg custard, caramel sauce, it’s floral and grainy. Wax and lychees, candied barley, cooked mirabelle plums, yet the balance is fabulous. A variety of citrus fruits, from pineapple to lime, wafers topped with whipped cream. Subtle mint, a generous hint of slightly salty iodine. On the palate, it is onctuous, creamy, speculoos biscuits, candied lemon, soft banana, Reine-Claude plum jam, very subtle spices. A long and explosive finish, shortbread biscuits, liquorice sticks, aniseed, blond tobacco leaves, mineral overtones. 

 

In Short, 

It’s absolutely perfect, the wine casks are very subtle and simply add a touch of fruitiness to the whole, it’s a very recognisable Bruichladdich, with all the hallmarks of the distillery’s character, but with a touch of cream and jam thrown in. For now, it’s still easy to find, I’d advise buying some straight away as we don’t know whether it’ll suddenly become a hot commodity or not. Needless to say, I’ve already snapped up a bottle myself. 

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                             To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                            Sadistic Mika Band - Suki Suki Suki

Bruichladdich 2010 Micro-Provenance 14 yo c. #0808

 

 

 

58,8°

Distillery : Bruichladdich - Islay

2d Fill Virgin Oak Cask

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

Among the countless Micro-Provenance releases, a range of diverse curiosities launched by the distillery in the 2000s, this one is reserved for the French market. It has been matured in a second-fill virgin oak cask that previously contained whisky from Bruichladdich. The barley used is Optic, which is rare enough to be worth noting. This is a winter barley variety created in 1989, which was dominant in the 1990s but has now fallen somewhat out of favour. As the spirit was distilled on 14 April 2010 and bottled on 31 March 2025, it is almost 15 years old, give or take 14 days. I wonder why it took over a year to put it on sale. 292 bottles have been produced, distributed exclusively to the 14 French shops that are part of the Laddie Crew.  

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

A slightly minty, evanescent nose, yet it is quite fruity too, mirabelle plums and bananas, iodine and sea salt, toasted bread, drops of caramel, vanilla extract and floral honey in the background, beaten eggs, parsley, coconut. A dash of citrus. The palate is rich and smooth, lychee, pastry cream, butter brioche, lovely spices. Bread dough, malt biscuits. A long, explosive finish, full of grains and cooked fruit, particularly wheat, light wax, young and freshly cut wood, dried flowers.   

 

In Short, 

I really liked it, the Optic barley imparts more subtle, fruity and honeyed flavours, whilst the influence of the cask emphasises the wood and the grains. It’s just what this spirit needs, as it’s already very grainy and delicately briny. A fine achievement. That said, I found the price a bit steep, so I opted for another bottle, which I’ll only be allowed to talk about from tomorrow onwards. Having said that, if I hadn’t had to choose, I might have ended up giving in to temptation after all. 

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                             To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                                   Mandrake Handshake - The Change and The Changing

Octomore x4 + 10 Concept 0.2 10 yo

 

 

 

70°

Distillery : Bruichladdich - Islay

Bourbon, Sweet Wine and Sherry Casks 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2019

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 162 ppm

 

 

 

The Octomore Concept is a series of only two bottlings, the first released in 2017 and the second in 2019. The bottles are smaller, containing only 50 cl, for a highly experimental product. Here, the liquid has been distilled four times, which is very rare and increases the alcohol content. It was then aged for ten years in three different types of casks. 3,000 bottles were available for sale.  

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Extremely smooth and balanced nose, apple crumble with a hint of vanilla, lemon cream, papaya, a slice of pineapple. The peat is in the background, refined, chiselled, discreet. Green seaweed, kelp, a trail of salt. It is very iodine-rich and airy. After a while, you can smell cereals, hay, young and raw wood, herbal notes. On the palate, it is spicy but silky, lychee and white currants, pear, then pepper, clove. The finish is very long, even endless, extremely powerful, pieces of charcoal, cumin, a good dose of lime, grapefruit, asparagus. Vanilla peat full of gravel. Fresh mint.

 

In Short, 

Despite the very high alcohol content, it is perfectly integrated, and it is magnificent because it is so smooth and balanced. The peat is very subtle, and I challenge anyone to recognise this Octomore in a blind tasting. It is truly incredible and worth exploring for any whisky lover. Unfortunately, the price is huge, and it's prohibitive. What's more, it is very difficult to find it after all these years.  

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Sutej Singh - Oceans Apart

Octomore 2019 Edition 16.3 The Impossible Equation 5 yo

 

 

 

61,6°

Distillery : Bruichladdich - Islay

Bourbon, Sauternes and Pedro Ximénez Sherry Casks 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 189,5 ppm

 

 

 

The third version of the 16th Octomore release was matured in three different types of casks: Bourbon, Sauternes, and Pedro Ximénez. Only Concerto barley was used, sourced from the Octomore farm on Islay, specifically from Church Field.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Slightly woody almond paste, studded with hazelnuts, pine needles, crunchy cereals, then smoke fills the nose. Beautiful and intense, full of icing sugar, laden with charcoal, and very mineral, chalky, salt stalactites. Stains of soot, gravel, lime, but also lychees, juicy pears, rose petals, ointment. On the palate, pure silk, rose water, barley sugar, white grapes, a zest of citrus, mandarins, then spices come in, cloves, cumin, black pepper. Splashes of peat. Powerful, lingering finish, shortbread biscuits, oranges and grapefruit, dried apricots, salted butter fudge, gypsum rock, salt crystals. Peaches.

 

In Short, 

It's surprising, but I didn't really taste the cereal, or very little of it, even though that's the hallmark of this edition. It's more mineral and creamy, coastal and fruity. The peat isn't at all overpowering, but it's not light either. The finish is superb, the rest is excellent without being overwhelming. It's a little less good than usual, in my opinion, but it's still very high quality. The price obviously gives pause for thought. 

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                            To Be Listened While Sipping : 

                                           Cairiss - Disgraced      

Octomore 2019 Edition 16.1 The Impossible Equation 5 yo

 

 

 

59,3°

Distillery : Bruichladdich - Islay

1st Fill Bourbon Casks 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 101,4 ppm

 

 

 

The first version of the 16th Octomore batch is like the others, aged in Bourbon casks and made with Concerto barley from mainland Scotland. Each time, it's the same, and each time, there are a few small differences, which are always nice to notice.  

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Very creamy nose, but not like pastry cream, with a pile of peat and a medicinal touch, dried heather, almonds, cut hay, intense mineral notes, vanilla and lemon, but in the background, semi-salted butter, barley sugar, apricot jam and floral fragrances. On the palate, roasted hazelnuts, coconut, salted and creamy caramel, green apple, seaweed, ginger. Abundant peat and spices. Very long, very well-crafted finish, a generous pinch of salt, marzipan, chimney fire, dark chocolate and mint, honey, ether. Intense pepper and lots of smoke.

 

In Short, 

Since 12.1, I have found the Octomore .1 series to be consistently excellent. 13.1 and 15.1 were very elegant, and this one is more rustic, more country-style, but still with a certain elegance. Farmhouse touches rub shoulders with mineral notes, fruit and sweetness meet peat. Honestly, it's expensive, but I don't find the price that excessive. 

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Patriarkh - Wierszalin IV

Octomore 2019 Edition 16.2 The Impossible Equation 5 yo

 

 

 

58,1°

Distillery : Bruichladdich - Islay 

Oloroso Sherry and Bordeaux Wine Casks, Madeira and Moscatel Finish

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 101,4 ppm

 

 

 

The 16th batch of Octomore has a rather complicated second version: aged in Oloroso sherry and Bordeaux wine casks, it was then finished for a year in Madeira and Moscatel wine casks. The result is bound to be at least a little fruity. The barley used is Concerto from mainland Scotland.  

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Suffocating, intoxicating, blinding smoke. Quite dry, full of soot and charcoal, thick, almost solid. Iodine and limestone, salt deposits, stalactites. And behind that, raspberries, a few strawberries, cranberry jam. At the very bottom, crispy cereals, muesli, puffed rice. Pastry cream, rustic woodiness, brown sugar. On the palate, it is silky, light, evanescent, a bubble of icing sugar on a honey and walnut cake, then intense spices, cumin, black pepper, chilli. Very slight touch of bitterness. Extremely violent and long finish, cola, damp leather, salt dough, charcoal nuggets, apricot juice, dates, egg cream, brewer's yeast, basalt and granite rocks.

 

In Short, 

Octomore still has that magical, contrasting character, between fruit, subtlety and enormous smoke, like a tidal wave. However, this time, the balance is less effective. You can smell the alcohol on the nose, and the spices are very strong on the palate. So I'm a little disappointed, but I'm still giving it a very good rating, because all of this is made up for by the totally incredible finish, which is as long as it is complex and devastating. In short, it's not as good as usual, but it's still a success. Obviously, the price is very high, but what is money after all?

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Pile - Bouncing in Blue

Port Charlotte 2001 East Village Whisky 23 yo

 

 

 

51,7°

Distillery : Bruichladdich - Islay 

Hogshead

Independent Bottling 

By East Village Whisky Company

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 40 ppm 

 

 

 

Recently, there has been a kind of competition to bring out the oldest Port Charlotte possible. There were a few 19-year-olds released confidentially in 2023 and 2024, but the 20-year-old Rock'ndaal from the Feis Ile 2024 was the occasion to communicate that it was the oldest Port Charlotte. This was untrue, as some 21-year-old Port Charlotte had already been launched before. This one was the bottling that made everyone agree. It is the oldest by 2 years. It has been aged in a Hogshead cask, but the colour of the liquid seems to me to be a little dark for that. Only 142 bottles are on sale.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Woody fruits, liquid caramel, chewing tobacco, grimy smoke, soot, greasy charcoal. Gooseberries and cranberries, soaked in fuel oil, motor oil, oilseeds. Grape seed oil, argan soap, fermented fruits, it's a little vinous. Floral touches bring a nice balance. On the palate, chestnut cream, dried fruits, dates, apricots, chocolate, lively spices, cumin, cloves. The finish is long and powerful, just-ground coffee, cocoa powder, bark, tinder, bay leaves, hazelnuts, cashew nuts, macadamia. A pinch of charcoal.

 

In Short, 

The nose is typical of the brand's profile, but there's nothing absolutely exceptional about it, though that's to be expected given its age. The finish is very beautiful, but on the palate I find it a little light. It's disappointing on the whole, I was hoping for better from the oldest Port Charlotte in circulation. It's still a very good whisky, of course, but at over 20 years of age, it should be sublime. I wonder if there isn't a problem with the cask, which is advertised as being a Hogshead, but I detected some vinous touches and it's a little too woody. This reminds us that age is not a decisive factor in the quality of whisky. What makes a good whisky is the quality of the distillate, and the quality of the cask, which can only be improved by age.

Score : 88  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Jakob - Blind Them With Science

Bruichladdich 2012 East Village Whisky 11 yo

 

 

 

52,7°

Distillery : Bruichladdich - Islay

Red Bordeaux Barrel

Independent Bottling 

By East Village Whisky Company 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

Among the recent bottlings from the East Village Whisky Company is this Bruichladdich, aged for 11 years in a red wine cask from the Bordeaux region of France. Only 49 bottles are on sale, so it's a very limited edition. East Village Whisky Company is a German bottler owned by Peter Ostendorf. In fact, Ostendorf means East Village in German, so we have the origin of this bottler's name.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The wine barrel has taken over from the rest, fermented pomegranate seeds, watermelon, cherries in brandy, orange marmalade, wine jam. It's slightly acidic, even sour. Mon Chéri chocolate. Milk fermented with redcurrant juice. Very damp exotic wood. On the palate, it's still a little acidic, grapefruit, blood oranges, a drop of raspberry coulis, fairly powerful spices, pepper and cumin. The finish is quite long, rich, but also acidic, acerola, wood and caramel, passion fruit and quetsches.

 

In Short, 

The wine cask completely destroyed the identity of the whisky, and even turned it into something quite original, very fruity, certainly acidic, but quite well balanced. At first, I didn't like it at all, but after a few days of oxidation, the whisky became balanced and pleasant. It's certainly one of those young, very fruity wines, and the fruit has imprinted itself so much on the whisky that the identity of the liquid was lost. Let's say it's an experimental whisky, which will only appeal to lovers of fully-aged wine casks, because it's not a finish, which is quite rare. Nevertheless, this whisky has its qualities, particularly on the finish, I don't regret to have tasted it, at least I will remember it.

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Fire! - She Owned His Voice

Bruichladdich Black Art Edition 11.1 24 yo

 

 

 

44,2°

Distillery : Bruichladdich - Islay

Oak Casks

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

So this is the 11th edition of Black Art, and the 7th under the responsibility of Adam Hannett, the venue's master distiller. For the occasion, he has decided not to divulge the types of cask used for this one - it's a secret and he won't tell anyone. Okay, but why is that? Are there any unmentionable casks? A tequila or mezcal cask that would bring down the value of the bottle? I'm surprised, because this type of cask was rarely used in the 1990s. In any case, I'm frustrated by this cult of secrecy. For me, the pleasure of discovering a bottle is also knowing where it comes from and how it was made. The second strange thing is that the juice is 24 years old. Since it was bottled in June 2023, we can deduce that the most recent cask was distilled in early 1999 or late 1998. Except that the distillery was closed at the time, and was not producing anything at all. Production ceased in December 1993, so either the whisky is much older than 24 years, or one or two casks were distilled when the distillery was closed, or the whisky was kept somewhere other than in oak casks for some time, which would explain the age inconsistency. Honestly, it's the 3rd hypothesis that seems most likely to me, and it would explain why Adam Hannett is fiercely secretive about the ageing process. 1286 bottles were produced, but this is only specified by one site, so this figure is not totally reliable. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

It's both winey, with a hint of vanilla, and rich in dried fruit, damp leather, grapefruit zest, melting chocolate on a juicy pear, floral and exotic fruit notes, it's pulpy, full-bodied and sweet. A light sea breeze tops it all off, with a pinch of coarse salt. On the palate, it's smooth and suave, with dried fruit, dates, figs, but also rose loukoum, pistachio, notes of wood, cinnamon, nutmeg and saffron. The fruit becomes darker, quetsches, red grapes. Quite a long finish, with a certain character despite the low alcohol content, almond paste, warm honey, fruit coulis, coconut crumbs, dried pineapple. 

 

In Short, 

It's very complex and varied, I'm thinking of Bourbon and Sherry casks, but also white wine or white spirits casks. We know the distillery staff's taste for experimentation, and that's why we like them, which is why I really don't understand why the ageing processes are kept secret. A Bruichladdich fan is prepared to hear a lot, has no prejudices, and is always thirsty for discovery. I know it, because I'm one of them, and that's why we love this distillery, because it's always looking for original things. So why keep it a secret? I have the impression that it's a shameful family secret, but even in that case it's better to get it all out in the open. Anyway, the fact remains that this is a very good whisky, original, rich and varied, and totally successful. Obviously, the price is too high for what it is, but that's the price of experimentation I suppose. For absolute fans only. 

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                 Akua Naru - Poetry : How Does It Feel Now???

Octomore Edition 03.1 5 yo

 

 

 

59°

Distillery : Bruichladdich - Islay 

American Oak Bourbon Barrels 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2010

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 152 ppm

 

 

 

Back in the early days of Octomore, the brand's communications were less polished. No subtitles like Dialogos or The Impossible Equation. Just the age, the casks used and the ppm level. Personally, that's enough for me. A lot of people say that the first Octomore were much better, and I'm happy to verify that today. This one is a limited edition of 18,000.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

A wall of herbaceous peat, granite, tall grass, reeds, with a dash of vanilla and rocky smoke. After a few minutes, bubbles of icing sugar, fresh lychees, mashed banana, white peaches. Rosewater, Turkish delight, it's all very delicate, strangely enough. On the palate, solid and  thick peat, but also mirabelle plums, airy, iodised notes, citrus fruit, grapefruit, pineapple, lime. Angelica. The finish is long and explosive, typical of Octomore, destroying everything in its path, but at the same time quite supple, charcoal, damp earth, dark chocolate, marrons glacés. It's slightly velvety.

 

In Short, 

As an Octomore fan, I can confirm that the oldest are the best. I have the 04.2 at home, and it's my favourite. And this one is without doubt the best of the .1 series that I've tasted. Those of today are less fruity, less sweet, they have a more classic profile with the basic elements of Bourbon. Fortunately, those from the .2 and .3 series are more complex. The .1s of the old days are worth the .2s and .3s of today. On the other hand, now you have to spend a hell of a lot of money to find one from that era, I don't think it's worth it any more.

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Supping :

 

                                           Mùr - Heimsslit

Port Charlotte 2004 Rest & Be Thankful Rare Collection Collection Foundations 2024 19 yo

 

 

 

59,1°

Distillery : Bruichladdich - Islay

Oloroso Sherry Hogshead

Independent Bottling 

By Rest & Be Thankful Whisky Co.

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 40 ppm

 

 

 

Port Charlotte bottlings over 18 years old are rare, with fewer than 30 in existence today. It was under the direction of Jim McEwan and Mark Reynier that the first casks of Port Charlotte were distilled in 2001, and the first bottling was launched in 2006. 18 years later, it's fair to say that Port Charlotte is a central part of the distillery. This one was launched at the Whisky Live Paris event, as part of the Collection Foundations created by La Maison du Whisky, and reserved for the French market. 250 bottles were released to the world.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

On the nose, wisps of Sherry settle delicately, ebony wood, brown sugar, charcoal and soot, cooked mushrooms, brown tobacco, fig jam, cinnamon, earthy notes, roasted nuts, melting caramel, ashes in the fireplace, melon, quinces and medlars, dried bananas. Iodine and sea spray, seaweed. On the palate, the same impression as on the nose, it's thick, deep, woody, but also very fruity and supple, with a serious layer of peat in the background, accompanied by some mineral elements, graphite, quartz, candied cherries, blueberry tart, lemon zest, baked apples, meringue, not excessive but intense spices, cloves, black pepper. Very long and explosive finish, charcoal, earth, incense stick, slice of bacon, crushed red fruit, blackberries, redcurrants. Toasted hazelnuts.

 

In Short, 

Another excellent product, it's on a par with this one, which is still on my must-have list. This one is a little less fruity, not much exotic fruit, but deeper and earthier, woody, melting caramel and perfectly integrated peat. It's a masterpiece, and the worst thing is that it's still available to buy, but at an exuberant price. I'm waiting for a promotion worthy of the name.

Score : 91

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Helllight - As Daylight Fades

Port Charlotte 2007 Rest & Be Thankful Whisky Co. 15 yo

 

 

 

57,7°

Distillery : Bruichladdich - Islay 

Sherry Butt 

Independent Bottling 

By Rest & Be Thankful Whisky Co. 

Limited Edtion 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 40 ppm

 

 

 

As former representatives of Bruichladdich, the creators of Rest & Be Thankful Whisky Co. have always beautiful casks from this distillery. Here we have a Port Charlotte aged 15 years, which has been bathed in a Sherry Butt, resulting in 864 bottles.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Fresh and airy peat on the nose, fleshy and vegetal. Dark chocolate with coffee beans, roasted nuts, soft toffee, blueberries and blackberries, muscat grapes, leather, brown tobacco, blood oranges, candied cherries, sandalwood, and a tiny hint of iodine in the background. On the palate, the fruit is heavier and thicker, barely hindered by the peat. It's typical of the distillery, with exotic fruits and chocolate, a few maritime notes, a campfire in the countryside, redcurrants, beetroot, citrus zest, heather, it's even almost vinous. Well-integrated spices, pepper, cloves, nutmeg. The peat returns in the finish, with a good layer of ash, fragrant bark, stuffed figs, then it becomes herbaceous, even medicinal, hazelnuts, floor wax, liquorice, clove, a drop of grapefruit.

 

In Short, 

Excellent Port Charlotte, where the peat is not omnipresent at all, giving way to a deluge of fruit and chocolate, liquorice, sandalwood and spices. In other words, everything you need. I'm sorry I didn't buy it when I had the chance, but now it's completely sold out and can only be found at auction for top dollar.

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Mammùt - Salt

Bruichladdich 10 yo early 80s Rinaldi Importatori

 

 

 

43°

Distillery : Bruichladdich - Islay 

Bourbon and Sherry Casks 

Original Bottling 

Core Range 

Single Malt 

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Almost Unpeated

 

 

 

Before the distillery closed in 1994, and even before it was reopened by Mark Reynier in 2001, it was owned by Whyte & Mackay, which still owns several distilleries today, including Isle of Jura, Fettercairn, or even Dalmore, Tamnavulin and Invergordon. And at the time, this 10 Year Old was the most common expression, available just about everywhere in Western Europe through various distributors. In Italy, whisky was very popular, except that it was called ‘acquavita di cereali’, and it was Rinaldi Importatori that distributed this nectar, apparently from the very early 1980s. On the back of the bottle, it says that Bruichladdich won a double gold medal at an unspecified international competition held in 1979. The expression must therefore date from after this competition, that means 1980 at the earliest.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The nose is incredible, warm and soft brioche, fresh from the oven, bread dough, beeswax, steamed ravioli, brewer's yeast, toasted wheat, and exotic fruits, pineapple, banana, kumquat, lemon pulp, liquid honey, sun-yellowed grass, haribo candy. On the palate, there's a big drop in tension, it's more mineral and cereal-like, slightly astringent, lemon soda, notes of limestone, foam, spices tinkle on the tip of the tongue, lime, slate, and it becomes herbaceous, until a very decent, fairly long finish, where we find some exotic fruit, puffed rice, traces of dry earth, cut hay, blond tobacco.

 

In Short, 

This really is a whisky from the great era, with a slight OBE (Old Bottle Effect), the patina of the old days. The nose is wonderful, with a very fine balance between brioche, cereals and exotic fruits. The palate, on the other hand, is rather common, but that corresponds to what this whisky was at the time, a very simple, low-end expression. The finish is very good, long and robust. Enjoying this liquid, you realise just how much whisky has lost its quality over the years. Of course, you can't produce with the same efficiency what was produced at an almost artisanal level, when very few people were interested in whisky. Nevertheless, it's a bit sad to have a glimpse of what we've lost. Every self-respecting collector who can afford it should have a copy of this type in their cellar.

Score : 87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Legiana Collective - Lord Horse

Octomore 2018 Edition 15.3 Islay Barley The Impossible Equation 5 yo

 

 

 

61,3°

Distillery : Bruichladdich - Islay

1st Fill Bourbon Barrels and 1st Fill Oloroso Sherry Casks 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 307,2 ppm

 

 

 

This is the 10th Batch in the Octomore .3 series, and as such it, like its predecessors, has been made from barley grown at Octomore Farm on Islay, on the McTaggart's Field plot. The barley was harvested in 2017 and distilled in 2018. This time, the peat content is extremely high, and this is even the 2nd most peated whisky in the history of mankind, the first being the Octomore 08.3. Maturation is relatively straightforward, using Bourbon Barrels and Oloroso Sherry Casks from Fernando de Castilla in Jerez, Spain.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Lightly woody apricot jam. Enticing smokiness, dry earth and cereals, baked apples, cinnamon. Pulpy fruit, grapes and plums, mashed banana and vanilla. Chalky peat in the background. Floral tones. Tourage butter, used to make croissants. On the palate, it's very sweet, rosewater, lychee juice, icing sugar, then the spices rise, cumin and pepper, steamy vanilla, Conference pear. Very long and explosive finish, apple crumble, custard, liquid caramel, hot resin. Onion bread. Mellow brioche. A little cream.

 

In Short, 

What I remember about this whisky is its incredible delicacy. The peat is fairly unobtrusive and perfectly integrated. As a result, the fruit stands out, apricot, cooked apples and, on the palate, pear. This is one of the great Octomores, the ones that surprise us every time we dip our lips into it. On the other hand, the price is even higher than usual, which made me hesitate to buy one. Where will this end?

Score : 91

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

                                           Youth Valley - Pegasus

Octomore 2018 Edition 15.2 The Impossible Equation 5 yo

 

 

 

57,9° 

Distillery : Bruichladdich - Islay 

2d Fill Wine Casks and 2d Fill Bourbon Barrels, 1st Fill Cognac Finish 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 108,2 ppm

This is the 2nd version of Octomore's 15th Batch, and for the occasion we have a double maturation in wine casks and Bourbon Barrels, with a finish in Cognac casks. The barley used is Concerto barley grown in Scotland, but not on Islay.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The nose is wrapped in a farmhouse peat, with lovely vinous fragrances and baked apples. The smoke is enticing but not overpowering. Candied chestnuts, juicy white fruit, almost liquid vanilla. Salt dough, sponge cake, rolled wafers. Whipped cream. Egg yolk. Unctuous mouth, olives and plums, but with lots of spice. Custard, floating island, mashed banana, almond milk, walnut liqueur. Long and powerful finish, never-ending, burnt coal, fuel oil, tide, foam, seawater. Tar-tinged rocks, soot and chalk, with a drop of caramel and black tea. Chestnut cream. Nutmeg. Pan-fried mushrooms.

 

In Short, 

Nothing exceptional, but by no means disappointing, this is a very successful Octomore, which is very similar to the 14.3, also aged in Cognac casks, but the wine softens the Cognac influence, so we have something very complex and very smooth, the peat is not very present either. The finish is the best part, very intense and radical. The price may seem high, but there's a unique know-how and expertise here, and it shows in the taste. For me, this is a must-buy.

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           The Yagas - The Crying Room

Port Charlotte 2013 SYC : 01 Cask Exploration Series 10 yo

 

 

 

54,4°

Distillery : Bruichladdich - Islay

1st Fill and 2d Fill Bourbon Barrels and Syrah Wine Finish

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 40 ppm

 

 

 

This is the 7th in the Cask Exploration Series, and it is the oldest, aged first in Bourbon Barrels, then the liquid was transferred in 2018 to European oak casks that had previously contained Syrah wine. The Syrah wine is a full-bodied wine from the northern Rhône Valley, and the farmer who supplied the barrels produces mainly organic and biodynamic wine. The only drawback is that we don't know how many bottles were produced.

Let's Taste It : 

Heady and vinous aromas, blackcurrant, pomegranate, watermelon, thick smoke, yet fruity and sweet. Tropical wood, ebony, dark chocolate mousse. Hints of honey and vanilla, iodised notes. On the palate, dark fruits, it's unctuous, forest berries, muscat grapes, blackberries, but also colourful spices, cumin, cloves and paprika. Some fresh raspberries. Powerful finish, with intense, pungent smoke, woody coffee, mocha cake, burnt bark, charcoal, a drop of tar, melted chocolate, very slight note of bitterness. Nutmeg.

 

In Short, 

I was a little disappointed by the first dram, but by the second I could understand what all this fuss was about. The nose is intense, very dark and deep, and the finish magnificent. Only the palate seemed very slightly pale to me, but full of flavour nonetheless. It's a totally original product, and I can't remember ever having drunk a whisky so marked by red wine. The price is high for what it is, but for a fan like me, it's definitely worth it.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Outclose - Cosmic Twin

Octomore 2018 Edition 15.1 The Impossible Equation 5 yo

 

 

 

59,1°

Distillery : Bruichladdich - Islay

1st Fill and Recharred Ex-Bourbon Casks

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 108,2 ppm

 

 

 

I'm always happy to discover a new Octomore Batch. So, nothing particularly new for the 1st version of this 15th Batch, except that some casks have been recharred, that means burnt a second time with a blowtorch after being filled and emptied with Bourbon.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The nose is very smooth and elegant, with candied vanilla, juicy mirabelle plums and polished wood. The peat isn't all that strong, but the smoke is bewitching. Almond paste, crème caramel, wafers filled with vergeoise. Semi-salted butter biscuits. Very well-balanced palate, fruit pastry, buttery croissants, the peat is in the background, powerful but tamed. The spices come to the fore, but there's nothing revolutionary about that, the finish is very well managed, with a few notes of bitumen and waxed wood, but also exotic fruits, banana, mango and apricot. Melting caramel, wood resin. Ricola sweets.

 

In Short, 

After the 12.1, which was a monster of explosive peat, a concentrate of choking smoke, Adam Hannett sought to do something more elegant and balanced with the Octomore .1s. The first result was the 13.1, which I found a little too gentle. I wasn't able to taste the 14.1, but in my opinion the 15.1 is the pinnacle of elegance for a peated whisky, and therefore the culmination of the quest that began, somewhat clumsily, with the 13.1. It is also, in my opinion, one of the best Octomores in the .1 series, after the 12.1 of course. Taste it at least once in your life, whether you like it or not, and if you like it, it's without restraint.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           neànder - Aăs

Line Up #27 : Another slice of Bruichladdich

27 August 2024.

 

 

 

 

The Line Up Project : 

It's been almost two years since I last visited Bruichladdich. It's a distillery that I love, and a brand that I like more and more. And what has happened in two years? In my previous Line Up, I said, among other things, that they needed a better regular range. They have Classic Laddie, but that's not enough. You need older expressions to give a clear idea of what the brand is and what it does. And today, an 18 year old has been released. It caused quite a stir, of course, and so much the better. And I thought it was a good opportunity to take another look at what's being done in this distillery.

They are famous for Octomore, for Port Charlotte, and in the meantime we tend to forget this distillery's 3rd brand, the eponymous Bruichladdich, which is devoted to unpeated whiskies. It's a shame, because I think what they're doing there is very interesting. It has become one of my favourite unpeated brands, behind Bunnahabhain and a few others, but among the best.

So you should never miss an opportunity to talk about and promote this brand, and I'm doing my bit for the good of the community by recommending it to you.

In this Line Up, we'll find 4 original expressions, which show just what the brand is capable of, and 5 proposed by independent bottlers, at least those who use the brand the most. This will give us a range that I hope is representative.

The Tasting : 

Bruichladdich The Classic Laddie Scottish Barley : Eternal and sole representative of the Core Range under the Bruichladdich brand, this unpeated and unaged expression needs no introduction.
Cereals tinged with limestone and slightly earthy, a touch of iodine, mint, aniseed. Slightly light on the palate, with vanilla, wheat and peppery spices. A strong finish, but a tad short, vegetal, vetiver, puffed rice. Score : 84

Bruichladdich 2008 Bere Barley 9 yo : I hadn't tasted Bere Barley for a long time. It's a more or less annual range made with a barley that fell into disuse because it wasn't profitable enough. It shows just how important a role barley plays in the whisky-making process.
A smoother, more balanced nose of cereals, earth, vanilla. A hint of iodine and limestone. It's mellow, yoghurt cake, creamy honey, brioche. Expressive palate, citrus fruit and wood, it's full-bodied, with spices that aren't too strong. Long, robust finish, caramel, shortbread biscuits, marzipan. Score : 86

 

 

 

 

Bruichladdich 2004 Re/Define Eighteen 18 yo : So here's this 18 year old. I didn't understand whether it was part of the Core Range, or whether it was an annual limited edition. In any case, this first Batch was distilled in 2004. Triple matured in Bourbon, Sauternes and Port casks.
The nose is rockier, more mineral and more precise. The Sauternes casks bring some fruit. The Port brings a nice roundness. Whiffs of iodine. On the palate, it's almost silky, rosewater, then fairly strong but elegant spices. The finish is long and beautiful, with cloves, vegetal notes, honeysuckle and chlorophyll. Score : 87 

 

 

 

 

Bruichladdich 1992 Cadenhead's Authentic Collection 22 yo : Whatever the distillery, you can trust Cadenhead. It is Scotland's oldest bottler, now owned by the Mitchell family, who also own Springbank and Glengyle. Here we have a fine bottling aged in a Bourbon Hogshead.
Macerated grapes, dates. Wood resin, stuffed figs, liquid caramel. Iodine and limestone in the background. Almonds, shortbread biscuits. Perfect on the palate, with just the right amount of citrus, green fruit and discreet spices. Very long, magnificent finish, candied angelica, bay leaf, woody caramel. Score : 90

 

Bruichladdich 1990 Valinch The Purest Whisky in Scotland 15 yo : When they bought the distillery in 2000, after it had been closed for six years, Mark Reynier and Ian McEwan had the idea of releasing some Valinch, which are limited editions in Single Cask. At the time, they had nothing else to sell. This practice continues in the distillery today.
Quite strong cereals, honeyed vanilla. Apple crumble, speculoos. Shortbread biscuits. Puffed rice, toasted wheat. Calissons d'Aix. Liquorish palate, candied fruit, mountain honey, fairly strong spices. Vanilla and almond. Long finish, full of cloves and brown sugar, apricot, fudge, nougatine. Score : 88

 

 

 

 

Bruichladdich 2001 The Fishes of Samoa 18 yo : Archives is a Dutch bottler founded by the people behind Whiskybase, the world's largest whisky database. I trust them completely, everything I've drunk from them has been excellent, especially this little thing from a single Sherry cask.
Very rich Sherry, dried banana. Prunes, chocolate cake. Salted butter toffee. Very dense palate, chocolate and coffee, noble old wood. Figs. Barely perceptible spices. Damp leather. Extremely long, languorous finish, caramel, hazelnuts, dates, cocoa powder. Score : 91

 

Bruichladdich 1990 Cask Strength Collection 24 yo : Signatory Vintage is a well-known and irreproachable bottler. It's a benchmark, especially for Sherry cask bottlings like this one.
The sherry here is less intense, more apricot, dates and candied quince. Varnished wood. The palate is very woody and chocolatey, with fairly strong spices. Some red fruit, but discreet. Quite long finish, but not so explosive, liquorice stick, damp earth, blackcurrant and fig. Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

Bruichladdich 2009 Rest & Be Thankful Whisky C° 13 yo : Rest & Be Thankful is a trading company founded by former Bruichladdich collaborators, with whom they still have an excellent relationship. It goes without saying that they bottle a lot of casks from this distillery, and the quality is often very good. Here, we have the result of a cask of red wine from the Pauillac appellation.
A very velvety nose, with red fruit that seems to dance, blackcurrant that explodes, wood and stuffed figs. The palate is slightly syrupy, almost acidic, redcurrants, green apples, caramel and chocolate mousse. Long, woody, chocolatey finish. Some coffee beans. Score : 89

 

Bruichladdich 2013 Rest & Be Thankful Whisky C° 10 yo : Same bottler, but different ageing. Here we have a younger product, aged in a single Bourbon cask.
Beeswax, rustic vanilla, young wood, iodine fullness. A few mineral and honeyed touches. Genoise. Marzipan. Very balanced palate, creamy vanilla, citrus fruit, bread dough, robust spices. Powerful finish, destroying everything in its path, cloves, cumin, shortbread biscuits. Semi-salted butter. Score : 89

 

 

 

 

What I gain from it  : 

• After such a tasting, we have a pretty good idea of the distillery's hallmarks: intense, rustic cereals, it's farmy, but also fruity, particularly dried fruit, especially almonds. A touch of iodine, but light, and biscuity notes, mainly shortbread biscuits.
  

 

• I have to be honest, this new 18-year-old is a disappointment for me. I know that many people are very happy with it, and good for them. For me, it seems too unexpressive, lacking in character and depth. It's rare for Bruichladdich to disappoint me, but I can't put it any other way. It's difficult to negotiate well that moment when the distillery becomes venerable and releases aged expressions. In an aged bottling, you have to be able to preserve the character of the distillery and combine it with the influence of the casks. This is no easy task. I don't think we've succeeded here, but I hope to see an improvement very soon.
  

 

 

• Independent bottlings are of course the most interesting, this is the case for most distilleries. Rest & Be Thankful offers the most solid opportunities, with often attractive value for money, but you can pick and choose from all the major bottlers.
  

 

• Bruichladdich is a brand that lends itself well to bottling in Bourbon casks. It brings out its farmy character. For Sherry, we already have GlenDronach, Bunnahabhain, Glen Elgin, Macallan, Mortlach and Glenfarclas. For Bourbon, Bruichladdich can stand alongside Tobermory, but a little behind Linkwood, Glenburgie and a few others. Bruichladdich remains the unpeated brand I know best, which lends itself very well to ageing in Bourbon casks. 

 

• Bruichladdich is also the brand that experiments the most. Original ageings, such as wine or port casks, and triple maturations. But also whisky made from organic barley or unusual types. Above all, Bruichladdich is about people looking for new things, testing new things, and we should pay tribute to them for that.
  

 

 

 

Conclusion : 

Bruichladdich is a brand worth trying. You can either go for their daring limited bottlings or for the independent bottlings, which are very varied and all interesting. It's an original brand that deserves to be up there with the best unpeated distilleries.

However, it still has a bit of trouble with its Core Range. Perhaps, before trying an 18yo, they should have tried a 12 or 14yo? The 10-year-old and the 16-year-old have already been tried, but they have been discontinued for a long time. The problem is also to build up an interesting Core Range, without overshadowing the limited editions, Islay Barley, Bere Barley and other Valinch, Organic, Micro-Provenance, etc. But perhaps the real problem is that there are a few too many limited editions. That's the thing about distilleries where you're looking: you find lots of different things.

 

 

 

 

Bruichladdich is a bit like a young distillery. The long closure of 6 years between 1995 and 2001, not to mention the long years of reduced production that began in the 80s, left heavy marks that will not disappear immediately. It takes a very long time to really build a distillery, it takes decades. And Bruichladdich has done a good job so far. All that's left now is to build some fine older expressions, 18 years or more. Not single casks, but noble, subtle blendings that will reflect the distillery's identity. This is the last and most difficult step on the way to reaching the level of Lagavulin, Laphroaig, Springbank and others, who have never had to suffer long closures.