Bruichladdich Cask Exploration Sauternes cask (#3460)

Whisky: Bruichladdich Cask Exploration Sauternes cask (#3460)

Region: Islay

ABV: 54.9%

Price: £90

Distilled from Optic barley in 2009, matured in a second-fill sauternes cask and bottled for the Laddie Crew in 2020 at eleven years old.

Nose

Nutiness, peanut butter & milk chocolate (Reeses peanut butter cups), brioche, oiliness, hints of ethanol, and custard cream biscuits.

Palate

A punch of alcohol and raw oak, black pepper on the finish, soil, charred pizza crust, fizzy lemonade, dried apricots, viscous and mouth coating, with hint of nutmeg and petrol.

Nose (with water)

Nuttiness fades slightly, making way for more malty, chocolate biscuit notes on the nose. Starting to get more sweetness, demererra sugar, dunnage warehouse smell. Coastal sea air.

Palate (with water)

Pepper changes to chilli, hazelnuts and walnuts coated in bitter chocolate.

Conclusion

A funky Bruichladdich, slightly more oily and coastal and less sweet than expected from the sauternes cask, deep flavour and a long lasting finish. Having tried Dramfool d’yquem laddie, this falls slightly short of that unless you prefer more bitter, spicy whiskies. Still I’d take another bottle

Score: 8/10

• 10 - Perfection. A whisky that we’ll remember forever.
• 9 - Amazing. We’d pay through the nose for a bottle.
• 8 - Great. Pick this up at RRP.
• 7 - Good. Happy to have a dram or two but wouldn’t buy a bottle.
• 6 - Passable. Would accept a dram, but wouldn’t seek it out.
• 5 - Poor. Would drink if it was the only option.
• 4 - Bad. Maybe it can be saved by ginger beer?
• 3 - Awful. It can't be saved by ginger beer.
• 2 - Pour it out
• 1 - We’ve never tried a whisky rated this low and hopefully never will.

Have you tried Bruichladdich Cask Exploration Sauternes cask (#3460)? Let us know what you think in the comments section below.

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