Bruichladdich 1991 Port Cask Finish Aged 16 Years, 46% ABV -700ml, (Islay, Scotland)
- My Rating: C+
On the back label:
“Pronounced ‘brook-laddie'(meaning shore bank) this is Islay’s only privately owned distillery (now owned by Rémy Cointreau), and one of only a heroic handful in Scotland, run with passion by genuine whisky artisans with many generations of expertise.”
Some things I learned about the Bruichladdich distillery:
- established in 1881, now with Jim McEwan as the Master Distiller
- their lineup includes unpeated, lightly peated, heavily peated = 40 ppm (designated as Port Charlotte), and super-duper heavily peated = 140+ ppm (aka Octomore)
- known for their innovative and creative release including experimenting with different casks, peat levels, and special event releases.
- Visit the distillery for exclusive “Valinch” bottlings, where you bottle them yourself straight from the cask!
- Style: (Lightly Peated) Islay
- Taste Profile: Dry dark fruit caramel vanilla oak
- Where I got it: Grapes & Grains Liquor Depot (W.Edmonton)
- How much: $87 (after 5% off), March 2011
- Do I love this enough to drink it again: no
- Would non-scotch drinkers like this: doubtful
Tasting notes: Pours untanned leather light brown, clear with very micro sediment in the bottom of the bottle. Quality cork stopper that didn’t disintegrate after the 8 years of initial bottling. The nosing brings forth aromas of nutty caramel, vanilla, and nasal tingling alcohol detection. Some initial alcohol warmth, followed by red wine/cherry, caramel malt sweetness, honey, vanilla, oak, transitioning to the finish which includes tongue and throat numbness, cinnamon, treacle, finish. Overall decent, somewhat dry which didn’t particularly tickle my fancy.