Bruichladdich PHD_135 The Lasting Power of Vision

Bruichladdich PHD_135 The Lasting Power of Vision is a special Fèis Ìle 2016 bottling with ripe fruit, sweet oak and the creative signature of this Islay distillery. The name PHD stands for Progressive Hebridean Distillers, while 135 refers to Bruichladdich’s 135th anniversary in 2016. With only 1881 bottles released, a nod to the distillery’s founding year of 1881, this is a striking limited edition for enthusiasts and collectors.

For this release, whisky distilled in 2001 was drawn from first fill ex bourbon, sherry and French wine casks, followed by a finish in virgin oak. The result is an expressive Bruichladdich with citrus, melon, tropical fruit, vanilla, spicy oak and a warm, full structure.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Ripe fruit with melon, mandarin, citrus and light tropical notes. Then vanilla, custard, honey, gentle sherry influence and a clear spicy oak note appear. The virgin oak finish adds extra tension with ginger, eucalyptus and warming spice.

Palate

Full and lively with citrus, sweet malt, vanilla, yellow fruit and spicy oak. The combination of bourbon, sherry and French wine casks brings fruitiness and depth, while the virgin oak finish adds spice, nutmeg, white pepper and light oak warmth.

Finish

Long and spicy with citrus, vanilla, sweet oak, ginger, malt and a fresh touch of eucalyptus. Warm, expressive and unmistakably Bruichladdich.

Bruichladdich Distillery

Bruichladdich Distillery is located on the west coast of the island of Islay, on the shores of Loch Indaal. Founded in 1881 by the Harvey brothers, the distillery has a rich history and is known for its innovative and experimental approach to whisky production.

A specific feature of Bruichladdich is the diversity in their whiskies. The distillery produces three types of single malt whisky: Bruichladdich, Port Charlotte and Octomore. Bruichladdich whiskies are unpeated and are known for their fruity and floral character with notes of citrus and sea salt. Port Charlotte is heavily peated, with a robust smokiness and rich flavours of earth and spices. Octomore, the world's most peated whisky, has intense smoke notes with complex layers of fruit and spice.

The distillery places a strong emphasis on terroir and transparency, using locally grown barley and the pure water of Islay. The whiskies are matured in a variety of cask types, such as ex-bourbon, wine and sherry casks, making for complex and diverse flavour profiles.

Bruichladdich is known for its commitment to sustainability and local community, and their whiskies are often described as lively, complex and distinct. The combination of tradition, innovation and a strong focus on local ingredients makes Bruichladdich a unique and respected name in the world of Scotch whisky.