It’s been a while since i’ve last posted a review, doesn’t time fly?! That’s family life for you with a young one. What better way to pop my head up than to taste one of my good friend’s private casks of Bruichladdich… Distilled on 9th July 2012, popped into an ex-bourbon cask, kept onsite in Bruichladdich’s warehouse number 4, and bottled by hand in the dining room of Bowmore House B&B – you can’t get a more micro provenance bottling if you tried! This would be somewhat equatable to a half fill at Bruichladdich, but this private cask bottling is only available if you’re staying at Bowmore House B&B.

Right, on to the notes…

Info: Distilled 9th July 2012. Bottled 22 July 2025. 13 Years old. Fully ex-bourbon barrel. Cask #2378. 63.3% abv.
Colour: Light golden summer barley.
Nose: Not as closed as you might think for the high abv. At first there’s bright notes of red apples, brown sugar and crushed malt, slowly giving way to lighter vanilla, butter and citrus tones. In the background some hints of salt, grist and eventually hints of musty warehouse.
Palate: Wow, I’m not sure you’d guess at how high the abv is if you hadn’t read the label. It’s insanely drinkable at full strength. It’s beautifully sweet, bright and light. The oily spirit coats your tongue nicely, and when held for a while it reveals puffs of the casks char.
Finish: The finish is pleasantly warming and medium in length. It ends on a longer gentle barley note which fades out into a slightly drying oak tone right at the end. Lush.
Water: On the nose it stays vibrant with more grassy notes coming forward. On the palate there’s more spice with the sweetness is taken down a little; more oak notes coming out.
Thoughts: It’s very unusual for me to enjoy a dram at this strength, I generally prefer lower abv. and happily water them down to suit me. My palate is often overpowered at this strength, but not with this dram it seems – I prefer it without water! This is a pure and vibrant Bruichladdich that’s not hindered by oak tannin and spice. Very nice! £99 and only available at Bowmore House B&B… which (handily enough) is a highly recommended place to stay if you’re on an Islay whisky pilgrimage. 🙂