COVID has completely changed the way we normally live our lives. Checking my email one morning last week I noticed Norfolk Wine and Spirits put together a Bruichladdich tasting. Was this another Zoom meeting with samples? Because, if you’ve been to one, you’ve been to them all! HOWEVER, this one was in person (socially distanced of course) but still a chance to enjoy a night out and drink some great whiskies. We signed up immediately!

Before I get into it, a couple years ago Jim and I had the pleasure of visiting the Bruichladdich Distillery in Islay and we both felt that this distillery was magical. You can read that blog post, here.

This tasting was held at a small Indian restaurant called The Curry House, which is about 45 minutes southwest of Boston in Franklin, MA. Joined via Zoom was Brand Ambassador Jason Cousins. For $50 we sampled nine whiskies, along with naan, samosas and skewered lamb presented on a charcuterie plate that included more delicious Indian Cuisine treats. We also enjoyed a healthy sample of Black Arts. Bikram, the owner of Norfolk Wine and Spirits and tonight’s host was kind enough to share from his private stash which, according to Jason, Bruichladdich will no longer produce after this year. We’ve heard that before about Black Arts, however.

Everyone had to wear masks until we reached our socially distant tables. Cousins took a moment to go over the distillery itself as well as other news on the island. He shared that an arms race is brewing on Islay as multiple distilleries have bought farms or started to do business with local farmers to grow Islay barley for their whiskies instead of importing barley from the Inverness region. He also shared a fun fact; their Warehouse 16 is called the Vatican because it houses all their best Vintages.

Finally, I need to thank Bruichladdich for having maybe the best whisky website out there. The amount of information they provide not only about the distillery, but about each and every bottle is pretty darn fantastic. A lot of distillers are catching on about the importance of an informative website but none, in my opinion, have matched the folks at Bruichladdich.

Below you will find a list of what we tasted along with their notes.

THE UNPEATED

Bruichladdich The Classic Laddie: This was our starter whisky. It’s unpeated and it’s matured in American and French oak casks.

Nose: Citrus, honey and wood

Palate: Green fruit, brown sugar and sweet malt

Finish: Warm and smooth

Bruichladdich Islay Barley 2011: Single Vintage, meaning when it’s gone, it’s gone. It’s aged for 6 year and is matured in Ex-Bourbon American Bourbon Casks and Ex-Wine European Casks.

Nose: vanilla, grapefruit and caramel

Palate: caramel, honey, citrus and apricots

Finish: citrus and caramel

Black Art 1994 08.1 Aged 26 Year: Let me be honest, this is my favorite of the lot. We got a chance to try this on this evening and it was delicious. I’ve also had the chance to try the 4.1 edition and you can read more about that one here.

Nose: honey, vanilla and hazelnut

Palate: citrus, toasted oak, caramel and fruit

Finish: hazelnut, chocolate and caramel

THE PEATED: Peat haters should stop reading now as the rest are heavily peated and are absolutely amazing.

We were meant to try the Port Charlotte 10 Year, but sadly they didn’t have this one. The upside, I’ve already written about this whisky. You can read about the 2^nd Edition, here.

Port Charlotte Islay Barley 2011: Matured in Ex-Bourbon American Bourbon Casks and Ex-Wine European Casks

Nose: lemon, chocolate and peaches

Palate: smoke, pepper, salt and apples

Finish: smoke and wood

Port Charlotte Islay Barley 2012: Matured in Ex-Bourbon American Bourbon Casks and Ex-Wine European Casks.

Nose: vanilla, peat, apples and barley

Palate: salt, pepper, peat, chocolate and vanilla

Finish: smoke and salt

Phenol Level: 40PPM

Port Charlotte OLC:01 2010: Matured in Ex-Bourbon American Bourbon Casks and Ex-Wine European Casks.

Nose: oranges, coffee and salt

Palate: pepper, smoke, fruit and tobacco

Finish: smoke, chocolate and vanilla

Phenol Level: 40PPM

*I’ve previously tasted and written about the Octomore 6.1 and you can read about that here.

Octomore 11.1 Aged 5 Years: Matured in previously fill Jim Bean, Heaven Hill and Jack Daniels Casks

Nose: malt, honey, spices and wood

Palate: brown sugar, toffee, vanilla and oak

Finish: vanilla, spices and a bonfire in your mouth

Phenol Level: 139.6PPM

Octomore 11.3 Aged 5 Years: Matured in previously fill Jim Bean, Heaven Hill, Jack Daniels and Buffalo Trace Casks

Nose: honey, vanilla and citrus

Palate: honey, oranges, apricots and fruit

Finish: smoke, grass and malt

Phenol Level: 194PPM

Octomore 10 Year 4^th Edition: Matured in previously fill Jim Bean, Heaven Hill, Jack Daniels and Buffalo Trace Casks

Nose: vanilla, nuts and smoke

Palate: fruit, honey and smoke

Finish: vanilla, tobacco, salt and smoke

Phenol Level: 208PPM

Overall, my favorite of the lot was the Black Art 1994 08.1 Aged 26 Year, as I mentioned above. The peated whisky are heavily peated so anyone that doesn’t like the taste of peat smoke, should definitely avoid those. For those like me, who enjoys a fireplace in my mouth, then you are going to love them. Peated whiskies are my go to whiskies in the winter. They have a way of warming my heart and soul.

Cheers!

Note: The contents on my blog are solely my opinion. To me every palate is different! Although I may or may not like a product, I always recommend for people to try it and make up their own minds.