Actually that happened far quicker than I expected so instead of a bottle I planned to open in June I'll celebrate that with another rare and hopefully tasty dram presented by my friend Timur.
What all we know about Bruichladdich except for being favourite malt of Indiana Jones and Jim McEwan as one of the most respected men in the industry?..
Well, quite a few people are angry about Bruichladdich diversity of styles, finishes and experiments, but I think it's great, without trying something new you won't find new solutions.
Some facts about distillery:
1. It was established in 1881 and lies on a western shore of Lochindaal bay just opposite of Bowmore distillery.
2. Lochindaal water is too salty for whisky making so they use water source from Octomore farm located nearby.
3. Bruichladdich was closed in 1983 and started normal work after Murray McDavid bought it in 2000. In 2001 Jim McEwan (formerly working on Bowmore) was seduced by a possibility to create any whisky he would like to and started as a production manager at Bruichladdich.
2. Lochindaal water is too salty for whisky making so they use water source from Octomore farm located nearby.
3. Bruichladdich was closed in 1983 and started normal work after Murray McDavid bought it in 2000. In 2001 Jim McEwan (formerly working on Bowmore) was seduced by a possibility to create any whisky he would like to and started as a production manager at Bruichladdich.
4. There are 3 main products: almost unpeated Bruichladdich, moderately peated Port Charlotte and heavily peated Octomore.
5. Bruichladdich is one of almost two dozen malt whisky distilleries that were founded over a century ago during the "whisky boom" of the late 19th century and which have managed to survive until this day. Other "survivors" include Aberfeldy, Ardmore, Aultmore, Balvenie, Benriach, Benromach, Bunnahabhain, Craigellachie, Dalwhinnie, Dufftown, Glendullan, Glenfiddich, Glenrothes, Glentauchers, Knockandu, Knockdhu, Longmorn and Tomatin.
Bruichladdich Valinch 1986/2001 cask #700 53.5% - 1200 bottles were released from one oloroso cask.
Nose: elegant, grassy and malty notes, touch of sea salt and light sherry sweetness. Mushrooms and nuts afterwards. Fresh mint note and even Pronto furniture polish.
Taste: malty and fruity with lots of squeezed lemons.
Finish: long enough, some old cellar notes combined with sherry sweetness.
Overall: the malt itself is a bit contradictory, you won't even guess Islay here (except for some touch of saltiness only) and its nose and finish seem to belong to different malts. Nevertheless I like it, thanks to Timur, slainte to all and long live Mad Max Hwisky with more and more rare bottles opened and enjoyed here!
Score = 23 22 21 22, 88/100!
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