I love Cadenhead’s and I love Bruichladdich. Not everything from both these places is awesome, but when Bruichladdich comes from a ‘normal’ cask, my level of trust rises.

I got this when it came out years ago and have slowly been sipping away at this bottle since. I also used it in one of the “#StayTheFuckHome” tastings I’ve been hosting since the lockdown prohibited us from doing almost all other types of tastings.

It was rather well received even though it’s a tad mellow for a normal whisky tasting, where taste buds get overstimulated quickly.

Sniff:
Warm bread, lots of barley and gentle oak. A certain creaminess, with hints of Gouda cheese, earthiness and a whiff of diesel. Very classical, and very interesting.

Sip:
The palate start of slightly sharp and quite dry. Lots of oak and sawdust, and grist. Barley, pear drops, rye bread. The earthiness and some heather make this a very typical whisky that sits very well in the unpeated Islay category. After a while a herbaceousness comes through, like thyme and dried rosemary.

Swallow:
The finish shows more barley and oak, with a bit more juicy apples and pears, so more fruity than before. It’s a nice twist that actually combines very well with the dried herbs from before. A long finish too.

This is the style of whisky that is exactly in my wheelhouse. A lot of maturation has happened without the cask overpowering the spirit entirely, and therefore there are a lot of flavors to be discovered. Very old fashioned, and a timid dram instead of a massive bruiser like so many modern-day whiskies.

Stunning stuff.

90/100

Bruichladdich 27, 1988-2016, Bourbon Hogshead, 50.2%, Cadenhead’s Authentic Collection. Still available through various stores, starting at € 166