Bruichladdich ‘The Classic Laddie Sixteen’ Unpeated 16 Aged Years Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)
Volume: 700ml ABV: 46% Age: 16 Years Old Country: Scotland
This is the definitive American oak matured Bruichladdich and the flagship sixteen year old whisky.
This delicious single malt, the classic 16 Year Old has been maturing in vanilla rich casks coopered from American Oak, it’s then stowed away in the Bruichladdich warehouses, slumbering, maturing, coming of age. All the time it’s maturing it’s breathing the invigorating marine air of this wonderful Hebridean island.
This is a classic spirit, with ‘The Laddie 10 and 22, it shares a genealogy, a lineage and a philosophy that is the very essence of Bruichladdich.
Official Tasting Notes
Character: This is the Laddie on top of his game: sleek, stylish, sinewy, sexy, and honed to perfection. The unctuous viscosity of the spirit is flawless.
Nose: Sensational. One’s first impression is “Wow! This is so fresh and pure I’ve just got to taste it”, but be patient, continue to inhale, there is so much more to enjoy: the dry crispiness of the barley becomes the perfect partner for the fruits of distillation – gooseberry, pineapple, melon, pear. Stay with it and you will find the mellow sweetness of prime American oak emerging gently, bringing Brazil nut and caramel. Add to that a drift of banana cake and you are now in olfactory overdrive. But there is more! The incredible wild flower aromatics (which can only come from a spirit matured full- term on Islay) create a wondrous slipstream.
Taste: The character and warming strength of the spirit upon entry is impressive. The aromatics never told the taste buds of this level of maturity. The sweet vanilla of Ozark Mountain oak is right up front bringing the structure with that hallmark homemade toffee flavour. The luscious freshness of fruit essence on mid palate is beautiful, performing alongside the delicious barley sugar, biscuity sweetness. It is show time for sure! The fresh floral notes have merged into a wild honey flavour which together with the marine/ lemon flavours highlight an illumination of the senses.
Finish: Multi-layered, elegant and classy; its warmth, sweetness and totally natural flavours extend inexorably in to a mellow space and are totally memorable.
Mood: Martini – any time, any place…