Bruichladdich 2007 Valinch 17 Year Old (Feis Ile 2024) & Bruichladdich 2006 15 Year Old Private Cask Bourbon #1290

Bruichladdich 2007 Valinch 17 Year Old (Feis Ile 2024)

Region: Islay

ABV: 57.1%

Price: £75.00 (500ml) 

Distilled on the 14th of March 2007, the spirit for this festival release was matured for 17 years in a 2nd fill Sherry butt before being bottled for the 2024 Feis Ile. A total of 977 bottles were released.

Nose

The nose is very sherry-forward, initially presenting as beef covered in gravy with chocolate dumped on top. As the whisky sits and opens up, these savoury notes transition into red fruits, specifically raspberries, complemented by touches of fudge and treacle. There is a hint of spice, notably cinnamon, but it's not overwhelming. Overall, the cask influence seems to have overpowered the underlying spirit, as there's nothing distinctly "Laddie" about the nose.

Palate

The palate is punchy, again heavily influenced by the sherry cask, showcasing flavours of jammy raisins, cranberries, and raspberry ripple. There's a note of coffee amaro, which adds a touch of bitterness. There’s also arming gingerbread spice showcasing the ABV. The mouthfeel is good, though not exceptional. The finish is medium, with a lingering sweetness.

Nose (with water)

Adding water to the nose enhances the sweetness, bringing forward more noticeable notes of fudge, treacle, alongside brown sugar, and Caramac bars. The meaty and red fruit aromas that were present before are now less prominent. It’s still heavily sherry-forward with little in the way of the Laddie spirit.

Palate (with water)

Adding water to the palate increases the spiciness, introducing a pronounced raw ginger note. The sweet cask influences now shift towards prunes and raisins. The mouthfeel is unaffected by the addition of water. The finish is medium in length, with more spice. The coffee amaro transitions into coffee grounds, resulting in a slightly more bitter taste.

Conclusion

This is distinctly sherry-forward, but unfortunately, it doesn't quite capture any real notes we typically associate with Laddie. Judging it on its own merits, we enjoyed it for what it offers. If the mouthfeel had been slightly better, we would have rated it a 7.5. As it stands, we give it a solid 7.

Score: 6/10

Value

A 17yo Laddie at £75 is a no brainier.

Bruichladdich 2006 15 Year Old Private Cask Bourbon #1290

Region: Islay

ABV: 58.2%

Price: £124.95

This private cask release available through Royal Mile Whiskies was distilled in 2006 and left to mature for 15 years in a bourbon casks before being bottled in an outturn of 233 bottles.

Nose

On the nose, this whisky is musty and funky, with distinct coastal notes of kelp and sea spray complemented by lemon zest, vanilla pod, and a hint of chlorine. Revisiting brings out further notes such as dry wood, blackcurrant jam, burnt newspaper, and charred wood. The alcohol is in good balance, with the nose make promises we hope the palate can deliver on.

Palate

The whisky is very smooth with great alcohol integration. There's a hint of wood spice, but it's pleasantly subtle. The flavour profile features sweet golden syrup complemented by touches of honeycomb, burnt brown sugar, and a slight bitterness from dark chocolate. Notes of butter brioche, Snickers gelato, and warehouse funk sit in the background. The mouthfeel is oily, and the finish is a good length.

Nose (with water)

Adding water to the nose brings forward notes of lime juice and strawberry jam, with lemon zest also becoming more prominent. The mustiness and funk are reduced, making the nose sweeter and cleaner. With these changes, it begins to resemble a generic Speyside whisky, losing some of its unique Laddie DNA. With water, the palate maintains a good level of sweetness, but the mouthfeel loses some of its oily texture.

Palate (with water)

The palate is now dominated by honey sweetness, complemented by an increased presence of bitter dark chocolate. The finish remains satisfying. However, like the nose, the addition of water causes it to lose some of the distinctive Laddie character.

Conclusion

It's an interesting dram and serves as a good example of a Bruichladdich in its mid-teens. Personally, we'd recommend skipping the addition of water as it tends to diminish the distinct Laddie character. While we would have been intrigued to see how this whisky developed with a few more years in the cask, even at 15 years old, it easily earns a 7.5.

Score: 7.5/10

Value

At £125 for a 15-year-old whisky, the price is definitely on the higher side, but sadly, in today's market, it's unlikely you'll find a similar offering for much less.

• 10 - Perfection. One in a million
• 9 - Outstanding. Exceptional whisky.
• 8 - Great. Would seek this out.
• 7 - Good. Quality whisky.
• 6 - Above average. Happy to have a dram.
• 5 - Average. Drinkable whisky.
• 4 - Below average. Passable.
• 3 - Flawed. Noticeable negatives.
• 2 - Defective. Significant faults.
• 1 - Offensive. Pour it out.

If you like what you’ve read then check out our social media (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) to get notifications of when we post a new review or just to chat about whisky with us.