Bruichladdich The Laddie (10 Year)

I just attended a great cookout this last weekend, and the host of the manor was a great aficionado of single malt Scotch. In fact, I invited him to pen some guest reviews - and if I'm lucky, he'll even post about his trip to several distilleries in Scotland, with pictures and the works. 

The one whisky in his cabinet I had never had was Bruichladdich The Laddie, their 10 Year unpeated expression. Coming from the same folks who make Port Charlotte and Octomore, I was mightily intrigued by their "standard" flavor profile, which you might expect to underlie all the other expressions. 


This is bottled in 85% ex-bourbon casks/15% ex-sherry casks for ten years, bottled at a nice crisp 46% ABV, and presented in proper craft form - non-chill filtered and uncolored. 

Nose: This is interesting; it's all the good parts of Port Charlotte Peat Project (reviewed earlier, it has a distinctly unpleasant nose) without crossing any of the same offensive lines. Very strong fried banana, tons of sour salt and sour brine and sour seaweed, a little melting rubber. Maybe even menthol or mint. This reminds me strongly of Talisker but without any strong smoke to speak of; there is a hint, perhaps, of peat here but you need to pull out a magnifying glass and deerstalker to find it. 

Mouthfeel: Quite warm and silky, despite the cool flavor profile. 

Palate: Cool and delicious. Rich pear flesh, more salt, a brine-laden beach sand smell coming across as a flavor. A strong backbone of honey and malt, with a lot of seascape elements. There is a slight waxy sourness here as well, following the nose, but I wasn't sure how to put words to it. It wasn't overwhelming, and even played counterpoint to the sweetness present. Maybe it is the rubbery banana coming back? 

Finish: Crisp, not long for an Islay, and very smooth. No pepper or oak elements to speak of, unusually. Lots of salt on the finish, some light cut grass. A little ginger astringency. 

Verdict: Recommended! This is akin to Talisker, but with a sideways step away from the brooding minerality and towards a different sort of richness. It's quite solid and worth your time.  This feels like a lot of effort went into it - and I'm sure the distillers at Bruichladdich would agree - and I look forward to other drams by them. 

Link to the website for Bruichladdich The Laddie: http://www.bruichladdich.com/the-whisky/bruichladdich/the-laddie-ten-year-old