Product Information:
The Bruichladdich Eighteen Re/define marks a significant milestone for Bruichladdich Distillery, one that reflects their enduring commitment to their values - to be a force for positive change through reconnecting with land, community and dram. This is an ultra-high provenance single malt from a combination of Scottish Mainland, Islay and Organic barley, with each varietal and harvest fully traceable from farm to bottle.
From the specific harvest and barley varietals used to the exact casks it has matured in - every single element of The Bruichladdich Eighteen is fully traceable. Which, for a whisky of this age, is a remarkable achievement. You see, 18 years ago, Bruichladdich distilled spirit from their first ever crop of home-grown Islay barley and their passion to diversify and champion their very own cereal growing programme has never missed a beat. The focus is making delicious whisky with real provenance that also benefits the community – and the Bruichladdich Eighteen is the embodiment of this ethos.
This is a single unpeated vintage expression. The single malt has matured exclusively on Islay primarily in ex-bourbon casks. These casks, together with a smaller number of Sauternes and Port casks, are vatted and blended for nine months before bottling to balance Bruichladdich’s signature floral and fruity character.
It's beautifully fragrant with ripe peach and honeysuckle, hints of violet and lavender and balanced with vanilla and creamed coconut. Melon, peaches, and vibrant citrus come to the fore, while toasty oak brings honey and crème brûlée decadence. The palate is generous with butterscotch and fresh fruits enveloping the palate. Cereals and barley sugars follow bringing about complexity. Quintessential Bruichladdich single malt flavours comes through on the finish - oak spices, leather and honeycomb draw it to long conclusion.
Maker:
Unlike its neighbouring distilleries from the island of Islay, the Bruichladdich range is made without peat. Without the influence of smoke, the intention is to expose the brilliance of their raw ingredient – barley. Stepping further outside of whisky tradition, Bruichladdich traces ingredients from origin to bottling, embracing every growing season, the subtlety of changing barley varietals and the methods applied in growing them.
Patient and purposeful in the distilling process; there's a slow fermentation in wooden wash backs, trickle distillation through tall, narrow necked stills before filling this 100% Scottish barley distilled spirit into an ever-evolving suite of top quality casks. All drams are bottled un-chill filtered and without colouring and using only Islay spring water. For over two decades now, their warehouses have stowed these high provenance single malts, safe guarding the quality of the ageing Bruichladdich stocks made by a previous generation of distillers.
What started as a pursuit of flavour, bringing terroir to whisky, has evolved into a deep understanding of how whisky and agriculture are intrinsically linked. The journey has taught them how whisky can be a force for positive change, as they continue to reconnect land, community and dram.
Philosophy:
Since Bruichladdich’s resurrection in 2001, their ambitions have gone beyond the simple idea of making and selling single malt scotch whisky. The goal was to be an antidote to the industry norm. They set a course to become pioneers, provocateurs and change makers. Reconnecting the land and the dram, re-evaluating the prescribed ‘rules’ of the industry, questioning where flavour comes from and understanding why agricultural ecosystems are important.
This was a journey that would go on to inspire an army of distillers and drinkers across the world. As Bruichladdich continued on this path, they discovered that the more they learn, the more they needed to do. Today, their commitments to people and the planet grow stronger, ensuring the business is a force for good.
With their empowered team, they pursue this bigger purpose and maintain their mission to create the most thought-provoking spirits possible. As Progressive Hebridean Distillers, they hope their actions will stimulate other entrepreneurial start-ups to emerge on our island home and further afield, each one adding richness and diversity, paving the way for an increasingly dynamic and self-sufficient future.
Nose - Earthy, Malty, Custard and Caramel.
Floral honey suckle overlayed with wood smoke or char on the nose, followed by a medley of tropical fruit. Oak brings honey, vanilla custard and rich creamy caramel.
Palate - Butterscotch, Fresh Fruits, Syrup Soaked Cereals
Luxurious and viscous, vibrant tropical fruit lead the charge, with honey, butterscotch coating the palate.
Finish - Toasted Oak, Barley Sugar, Honeycomb
Subtle presence of toasted oak with a hint of leather follow, with honeycomb adding to the smooth, sweet character.
A whiff of wood smoke or char on the nose, creating an overlay to more classic notes of stone fruit, mango, red berries, apples, and vanilla. Still lots of fruited liveliness beneath the initial smoke, which develops more toward cigar box and cigar ash. The palate offers honeyed sweetness, crème brûlée, coconut cream, tropical fruits, red berries, and pepper spice. Smooth and mellow on the finish, but the flavours don’t linger long. - whiskyadvocate.com, 93 Points.
The Finer Details
Style - Scotch Whisky
Country - Scotland
Region - Islay
Bottle Size - 700ml
ABV - 50%
