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“Because you can't buy happiness... but you can buy whisky and that's pretty much the same thing”

Read stories about Bruichladdich of A Wardrobe of Whisky blog.

You can read here older articles posted in A Wardrobe of Whisky since 2009.
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Pl1 Elements of Islay: Sherried Port Charlotte

By Miguel in Tasting , Bruichladdich

In case you didn’t notice, Pl1 got a Gold Medal at Malt Maniacs Awards 2012. I think it is the first time I see such an affordable whisky with a Gold in these awards.

“Slightly sherried, massive peat! This Port Charlotte bottled by Speciality Drinks for their range of Elements of Islay is a most interesting whisky”

89
Pl1 - Elements of Islay Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
This was the very first bottling of Speciality Drinks of Port Charlotte whisky.

This super peated whisky distilled at Bruichladdich distillery is fully matured in an awesome sherry cask. For sure this whisky isn't old but it does its job extremly well.

This dram has a cooper-like color.

Nose (89): more than average. peat, honey, wood, citrus.

Palate (89): dry, powerful. peat, honey, citrus, earth, floral.

Finish (89): longer than average. peat, nuts.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Pl1 - Elements of Islay Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky with 89 points over 100.

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TWE Whisky Show 2012 [Part 2]

By Miguel in St George , Bunnahabhain , Glenfiddich , Bowmore , Bruichladdich , Amrut , Glenfarclas , Ichiro , Rosebank , Talisker , Tobermory , Karuizawa , Douglas Laing , Carsebridge , Paul John

This post continue from TWE Whisky Show [Part 1]

I have just complete the first floor of The Whisky Exchange Whisky Show, and after tasting very nice whiskies as Talisker 35, Midleton Rare or several Kavalan Solist. Now I run for the ground floor where more whisky is awaiting me.

Hurry up! Hurry up Miguel! Ok, first floor has the whisky and food pairings, sure, very interesting. Thank you very much sir.

great-halls-whisky-show-london-2012

Going one floor under it. Wooa! Mother of God! So much whiskies and so little time. Only two and a half hours for the show to close. ok! Ok! Don’t panic!.

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The Peat Paradise: Islay from Bunnahabhain to Port Ellen

By Miguel in Tasting , Recommended , Featured , Laphroaig , Caol Ila , Lagavulin , Port Ellen , Ardbeg , Bunnahabhain , Kilchoman , Bowmore , Bruichladdich

Islay is an island in the west of Scotland that produce a style of single malts that you either love or hate: peated whiskies.

Gregor Haslinger Islay photo
(Photo on top of one of the Jura Pups looking south overseeing the Isle of Islay by Gregor Haslinger)

You may wonder why such an small island have so many distilleries and I hope this article enlighten you and share with us the passion for peated whiskies.
I have tasted already many of the whiskies created at Islay but I really wanted to taste them all in a row so I can compare them side by side. I hate when I taste blindly a whisky and I can’t decide if it is a Caol Ila ( most are ) or an Ardbeg.

So come with me in this trip around Islay in nine drams. Oh man! I am sure you can smell the smoke from there.

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The Botanist Islay Gin Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , Bruichladdich

“Lots of herbs in this gin. Quite herbal and quite powerful.”

77
The Botanist Islay Gin
Created at the Bruichladdich distillery, this superb Islay gin was distilled in the 'ugly betty' still described as "an oversized upside-down dustbin made of copper" by Tom Morton. Perhaps the best looking packaging we've ever seen for a gin - it's not all style and no substance either. This is a world-class gin, at a proper abv. A huge 31 botanicals go into The Botanist, including 22 native to Islay (the Juniper used is wild Islay Juniper).

This dram has a white-like color.

Nose (76): average. juniper, herbs, citrus.

Palate (79): powerful. juniper, herbs, earth, citrus, spices.

Finish (77): average. juniper, citrus, herbs.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this The Botanist Islay Gin with 77 points over 100.

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Bruichladdich Octomore 01.1 Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , Bruichladdich

“Liquid peat ambrosia. Tasty!.”

91
Bruichladdich Octomore 01.1
The now very rare first release of Bruichladdich’s Octomore. When it was released it was the world’s peatiest whisky, with phenol levels of 131ppm. This has since been eclipsed by the astonishing peaty punch of the second edition, but this will remain the original!
TODO: Check if strength is 63.5% or 63%
TODO: Check if strength is 63.5% or 40%

This dram has a fino-like color.

Nose (90): strong. some peat, iodine, floral, pears, wood.

Palate (93): oily, powerful. some peat, iodine, floral, honey, salt.

Finish (91): very long. peat, floral, a little honey.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Bruichladdich Octomore 01.1 with 91 points over 100.

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Bruichladdich 10 The Laddie Ten Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , Bruichladdich

“Superb whisky!. Not very peated with just a touch of delicious sherry aromas. Love it!.”

91
Bruichladdich 10 The Laddie Ten
The very first 10 year old whisky to be wholly distilled, aged and bottled by Bruichladdich's new owners. In many ways this marks the beginning of the new era, and this will be snapped at by connoisseurs and collectors. This was bottled on the 11th September 2011. A true milestone bottling.

This dram has a amber-like color.

Nose (91): more than average. peaches, peat, honey, nuts, citrus.

Palate (91): smooth, powerful, oily. peaches, peat, vanilla, honey, tobacco, milk chocolate, wood.

Finish (90): longer than average. peat, wood, salt, cocoa.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Bruichladdich 10 The Laddie Ten with 91 points over 100.

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Bruichladdich 17 years old Microprovenance Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , Bruichladdich

“Lovely whisky with a bit of everything: malt, honey, peat and spices. Gorgeous.”

90
Bruichladdich 17 year Micro-Provenance Cask 71
This was made using something called "Cask Evolution Exploration". One suspects that means "finishing it in something exotic-sounding." This was aged in bourbon casks, before a finish in Tempranillo wine casks, bottled in February 2009 in individually numbered bottles.

This dram has a gold-like color.

Nose (89): more than average. honey, citrus, peat, plums, cocoa.

Palate (90): smooth, powerful, oily. honey, peat, wood, citrus, biscuits, cinnamon.

Finish (90): longer than average. honey, spices, wood, floral.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Bruichladdich 17 year Micro-Provenance Cask 71 with 90 points over 100.

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Bruichladdich Valinch As the Current Flows Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , Bruichladdich
88
Bruichladdich Valinch As The Current Flows
This Bruichladdich was distilled on the 27th May 1998, and it was aged for 12 years. It was finished in a Calvados cask from Christian Drouin, and it was bottled by none other than us at the Bruichladdich distillery whilst we were over in Islay during Feis Ile 2011.

This dram has a white wine-like color.

Nose (88): more than average. honey, peach, apples, floral, spices.

Palate (89): powerful, oily. honey, peat, citrus, spices, wood, coffee.

Finish (88): average. honey, peat, floral, cardamon.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Bruichladdich Valinch As The Current Flows with 88 points over 100.

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Bruichladdich 18 years old 2nd Edition Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , Bruichladdich

“Seems like PX finished. It isn't bad but it is not my kind of whisky neither.”

87
Bruichladdich 18 year 2nd Release
The rare first release of the bourbon matured expression from the Bruichladdich distillery, this 18 year old then enjoyed a further finish in Willi Opitz Pinot Noir casks and exhibits some crisp tropical fruit notes.

This dram has a cooper-like color.

Nose (88): more than average. peat, honey, wood, vanilla, pears, peaches.

Palate (86): smooth, powerful, oily. peat, honey, cocoa, wood, raisins, dark chocolate.

Finish (86): longer than average. peat, dark chocolate, wood, citrus.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Bruichladdich 18 year 2nd Release with 87 points over 100.

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Port Charlotte An Turas Mor Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , Bruichladdich

“Quite good peat monster. This peat of Bruichladdich is something awesome. Don't miss the chance of tasting the cask strength version.”

91
Port Charlotte An Turas Mor
2010's release of Port Charlotte is a departure from previous years in two significant ways: as a multi-vintage vatting and being bottled at 46% rather than the humungous cask strength of the earlier PC's. An Turas Mor ("The Great Journey", it says here) is intended as a coming-of-age PC, and, it is claimed, fulfils Jim McEwan's original vision for the brand.

This dram has a gold-like color.

Nose (91): more than average. sweet, peat, honey, floral, vanilla, pepper.

Palate (92): powerful, oily. peat, honey, citrus, floral, salt, vanilla, wood.

Finish (90): longer than average. peat, earth, floral, citrus, honey.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Port Charlotte An Turas Mor with 91 points over 100.

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