I like Bruichladdich - I have had too little of it. I need to rectify this. Thanks to my friend Rob Martin, who donated this sample of 2011's Islay Barley. Since the sample I've had two more bottles - that's how much I liked this.
Islay Barley is part of Bruichladdich's "terroir" experiment - everything comes from local to the distillery. Bottled at 50% ABV (nice!), and without chill-filtration or coloration. 6 years matured in 75% ex-bourbon casks, along with 25% sweet wine casks (Rivesaltes, Austrian sweet wine, Sauternes), which have then been married together for 6 months.
Nose: Bracing, fat, heavy - grass, hay, malt ... farm smells. Sea spray. Hints of citrus. After some time in the glass, the sweet wine casks come out to play - a sugary woodiness is present.
Mouthfeel: Beefy, thick.
Palate: Vegetal! Surprisingly savory, follows the nose. Light citrus, lots of malt, hay, grass. Some sleight glowing sweetness from the wine casks balancing the overall impression so it's not too farmy.
Finish: Lots of malt and wood. Wood on top of malt. Tannins for days. Medium length.
Verdict: I like this, but it's a challenge - not because it's complex, but because the big bold flavors are not the traditional Islay palette (peat, smoke, saline, iodine, bonfire, etc.), instead a farmyard series of malt, hay, grass, and subtle citrus. Thank god this is bottled at 50%, because I think that redeems this - the flavors are gigantic and bold, which makes it more interesting than it might otherwise be.
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