Built in 1881 when puffer-supplied coal was available as an alternative fuel to local peat, it is likely that Bruichladdich was specifically designed to produce the purest unpeated spirit possible. The great Alfred Barnard supports this view with a tantalising clue – the Laddie is the only distillery on Islay that he does not describe as drying its malt using peat in his fascinating exploration of the island’s distilleries in 1885. Falling on hard times with whisky demand low and plenty of surplus then owners Invergorden shut the distillery down in 1995. Re-opening again in 2001 it was sold to Remy Cointreau in 2012 which started to invest heavily to refurbish the distillery. An onsite maltings is currently being built at the distillery to allow for a 100% Islay grown, malted, distilled and matured spirit.

Using 100% Islay barely taken from Dunlossit, Sunderland, Cruach, Strachmill, Rockside, IslandFarm, Coull and Mulindry. Matured in 75% 1st fill American oak ex-Bourbon casks and 25% 2nd fill ex-wine casks. The barley used contain a phenol level of 40 parts per million.