The primary whisky is unpeated Bruichladdich 2010 from a Rivesaltes barrique – just like what we already tried from Clever Dodger maybe.
Rivesaltes is without doubt one of the Vin Doux Naturel wines from the South of France. I visited the area final 12 months and undoubtedly suggest you look into the wines from producers like Cazes, Rombeau, Vaquer, Castelnou, or a few of the ‘impartial bottlings’ within the L’Archiviste collection. Wine types are fairly large, from a golden color to darkish pink, most aged between 1 and 5 years however usually lots longer, creating fantastic rancio aromas, not not like previous Oloroso. Seeing these demijohns within the blistering solar is fairly spectacular.
The opposite whisky is Lochindaal 2010, a peated spirit that’s in between Port Charlotte and Octomore by way of smokiness.
Bruichladdich 12 yo 2010 (52,1%, The Whisky Company 2022, ex-Rivesaltes barrique, 255 btl.)
Nostril: wealthy and candy, with a variety of grape aromas (Muscat fashion), raisins, fruit jelly and plum syrup. Melons too (could possibly be the spirit)? Caramel notes beneath, with brown sugar and a lightweight trace of hazelnuts and hay. Additionally cola sweet. Only a contact of sourness within the background, protecting the stability proper.
Mouth: once more just a little grape-y, however as an alternative of the anticipated (contemporary) Muscat profile, we’re now getting darker notes and a leafy profile. Hints of tobacco and earth, with mild tannins and various peppery notes. Brown sugar and toffee, with a touch of darkish chocolate. A refined natural bitterness within the very finish.
End: lengthy, nonetheless spicy, mixing with the earthy sweetness and leafy notes.
This can be a trendy profile that I didn’t count on from The Whisky Company, to be trustworthy. It’s quite wine- (and cask-)pushed. Whereas this provides richness and whereas the result’s fairly tasty and completely clear, it takes away a variety of the Laddie character. A properly contrasting companion to the following one although…
Lochindaal 10 yo 2010 (53,8%, The Whisky Company 2021, barrel, 232 btl.)
Nostril: ah, that is the quite farmy and barely rustic fashion of peated Laddie. A whole lot of intense aromas, like anchovies, antiseptics, tar and black peppercorns, towards a background of goat stables. There’s one thing of Nineteen Seventies Brora to it. Sooty smoke and only a trace of citrus.
Mouth: daring and fatty, with a definite peatiness that’s fairly mentholated and candy on the identical time. Once more not too clear – I really like this farmy facet. Olive brine, smoked lemon, hay. Candy spearmint and a touch of vanilla. Hints of yellow fruits, even mild banana (?) and white pepper in the long run.
End: lengthy and peaty, with maritime notes, pepper and hints of candy lemons.
I do know Lochindaal spirit is difficult to get as an impartial bottler, nevertheless it’s properly price attempting. A really punchy, sooty fashion however so thick and large, with beautiful farmy notes. Now accessible from DeinWhisky for example (let’s not take into consideration the present worth/age ratio of Islay whisky, ouch…). Rating: 90/100
