Bruichladdich 18 years 2003 - 2022 #238 Smede's Dram

Since Bruichladdich's resurrection in 2001, its ambitions have gone beyond making and selling Single Malt Whisky. Bruichladdich's goal was to be an alternate to the industry norm.

The idea was to be pioneers, provocateurs and change agents. To reconnect the land and the drink, to reevaluate the prescribed "rules" of the industry, to question where flavor comes from and to understand waa why agricultural ecosystems matter.

Origin and bottling

Distilled on May 25 of the year 2003 and bottled on July 26, 2022. Father and son Smede purchased this cask in 2003 and tasted a sample regularly until they were convinced the whisky was ready to bottle. Finally, they chose to bottle this Single Bourbon cask at cask strength, 58.9%.

Cask Type

This Single Cask Whisky has spent 18 years in a Bourbon barrel. This barrel was originally made from American oak and was previously used in the Bourbon industry. This type of barrel imparts delicious notes of fudge and softer caramel to the whiskey.

Tasting Note

Color

Amber

Nose

At the onset, a gently spicy nose of hay and toasted licorice. Also nutty aromas like almond and hazelnut give this whiskey character. Alongside the spicy, nutty character follow delicious fruit aromas like ripe banana and guava without becoming overly sweet. A nice oily butteriness makes this a delicious whole.

Taste

The first impression is immediately powerful. No peat indeed, but what a powerhouse. Full rich flavor of ripe banana, almond milk and cappuccino. Wonderful balance of sweet, sour and character, because character this Single Cask Whisky certainly has. The 18-year aging in the bourbon cask has created a potpourri of flavors: hazelnut, mild coffee, candle wax, salty butter, fresh bread, malt notes as in cookies.

Finish

The firm taste of the alcohol causes the flavor to linger on the palate for minutes along with the taste of cereal bisquits.

Overall impression

Family Smede, you have bottled a top-notch cask. Not all the information is on the label, but we have been told by the family and verified at Bruichladdich distillery.

Distilled: 25-05-2003

Bottled: 26-07-2022

Number of bottles: 190