Bruichladdich, 30-Year-Old, Islay, Single Malt Scotch Whisky (43%)
About this SPIRIT
Bruichladdich Distillery, Islay
Bruichladdich was built in 1881 by the Harvey Brothers and sits on Islay’s wild, west Atlantic coast. With a chequered past involving several corporate mergers, it was eventually closed in 1994 as it was found to be “surplus to requirements”. Resurrected in 2000 by Mark Reynier, Simon Coughlin, and Jim McEwan, it was voted Distillery of the Year three times and became known for its challenging convention.
Producing different peating levels, a commitment to 100% Scottish barley, and an innovative cask-management programme, this whisky is always non-chill filtered, colouring-free, and bottled on Islay using Islay spring water. Bruichladdich produces three styles – unpeated Bruichladdich, heavily peated Port Charlotte and super heavily peated Octomore – all using the original 1881 Victorian equipment.
It was purchased in August 2012 by the Rémy Cointreau group and continues to push the boundaries of innovation. In 2010, Bruichladdich launched The Botanist Gin. Created by Master Distiller Jim McEwan, using 22 hand-picked Islay Botanicals and distilled in one of the last remaining Lomond Stills, it has experienced huge success. In 2023, Bruichladdich launched its first rye whisky. Reflecting the increasing popularity of rye, not just in the US but worldwide, this rye whisky (The Regeneration Project) also has the benefit of creating crop rotation on nearby farms, helping to regenerate the soil.
(Adapted from the Malt Whisky Yearbook 2024)
Islay Whisky
The whisky region of Islay (pronounced eye-la) is arguably the most important 200 or so square miles in the whisky world. On the face of it Islay just another island of the Inner Hebrides. It lies in Argyll just to the west of Jura and around 25 miles north of the Irish coast, which can be seen on a clear day.
The island's fame as far as whisky goes is due to the 8 distilleries currently in production and the vast tracts of peat that cover most of the island's surface. The whisky distilleries are: Ardbeg, Bowmore, Bruichladdich, Bunnahabhain, Caol Ila, Kilchoman (this is the newest distillery on the island which started producing spirit in 2005), Lagavulinand Laphroaig.
The 8 distilleries with whisky for sale can be divided up, depending on the amount of peat used. The `big 3' are Ardbeg, Lagavulin and Laphroaig who all produce powerful smoke laden whiskies. The new malt produced by Kilchoman is also very powerful indeed.
Occupying the middle ground are Bowmore and Caol Ila. The whiskies produced at Bruichladdich and Bunnahabhain are in peat terms at least, the lightest.
There were more distilleries in the past: Port Ellen closed in 1983 while the Lochindaal at Port Charlotte closed in1929. The buildings at Port Ellen are however still in use, it is here that malted barley for the island's distilleries is produced.
When is a wine ready to drink?
We provide drinking windows for all our wines. Alongside the drinking windows there is a bottle icon and a maturity stage. Bear in mind that the best time to drink a wine does also depend on your taste.
Not ready
These wines are very young. Whilst they're likely to have lots of intense flavours, their acidity or tannins may make them feel austere. Although it isn't "wrong" to drink these wines now, you are likely to miss out on a lot of complexity by not waiting for them to mature.
Ready - youthful
These wines are likely to have plenty of fruit flavours still and, for red wines, the tannins may well be quite noticeable. For those who prefer younger, fruitier wines, or if serving alongside a robust meal, these will be very enjoyable. If you choose to hold onto these wines, the fruit flavours will evolve into more savoury complexity.
Ready - at best
These wines are likely to have a beautiful balance of fruit, spice and savoury flavours. The acidity and tannins will have softened somewhat, and the wines will show plenty of complexity. For many, this is seen as the ideal time to drink and enjoy these wines. If you choose to hold onto these wines, they will become more savoury but not necessarily more complex.
Ready - mature
These wines are likely to have plenty of complexity, but the fruit flavours will have been almost completely replaced by savoury and spice notes. These wines may have a beautiful texture at this stage of maturity. There is lots to enjoy when drinking wines at this stage. Most of these wines will hold in this window for a few years, though at the very end of this drinking window, wines start to lose complexity and decline.
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Description
Established in 1881, Bruichladdich Distillery has a rich history of producing distinctive Islay single malt whiskies. This 30-year-old expression is a testament to Bruichladdich’s dedication to ageing and quality. The distillery is committed to using 100% Scottish barley, emphasising the importance of local ingredients. The approach to whisky-making here includes minimal intervention, allowing the natural flavours to shine through. This whisky was 100% Bourbon cask-matured: 50% saw full-term maturation in refill hogsheads; the other 50% was aged in refill hogsheads and re-casked into fresh Bourbon casks after 20 years.
Iain Glover, Spirits Advisor, Berry Bros. & Rudd
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