Feis Ile has began and Bruichladdich received the ball rolling yesterday with their Rock’ndaal occasion. I already tried the Bruichladdich Islay Barley 2011 and right this moment we’re reviewing the newest model. Bruichladdich Islay Barley 2013 version was distilled from the 2012 harvest, raised throughout seven island farms.
This whisky was matured in a collection of first fill American oak casks (75%), and wine casks (25%) from Ribera del Duero, Syrah and Pauillac.
Bruichladdich ‘Islay Barley 2013’ 8 yo (50%, OB 2022)
Nostril: clear and near the uncooked supplies. Barley, sourdough bread, hints of moss and grass. Very recent, with some banana and lemon sweetness (lemon meringue), vanilla pastry and honey within the background. Hints of nectarine. Then gentle coastal notes and dried wildflowers. Further mineral notes come out after a drop of water.
Mouth: oily arrival, with an identical freshness and concentrate on barley. Loads of cereals, porridge and bready notes, with toffee sweetness and vanilla. Mid-palate it will get barely sharper, exhibiting hints of ginger and grasses. White pepper. Then hints of liquorice roots within the background, with a light-weight vegetal bitterness. Mineral notes develop stronger over time, alongside heather and a refined earthy contact.
End: somewhat lengthy, earthy and ‘inexperienced’. Natural tea with a touch of tonic water and grapefruit peels.
Prime quality spirit, however the massive grainy core and the agency grassy / leafy character makes it much less enticing than the 2011 launch for my part. That stated, I’d like to attempt an older model of those batches as effectively. Accessible from Bruichladdich direct or retailers like TyndrumWhisky and Grasp of Malt.
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