Bruichladdich 15 year old 1st Edition review

This is the First Edition of Bruichladdich 15 year old, matured 85% in American Ex-Bourbon and 15% in Ex-Sherry Spanish Oak. The 2nd Edition was matured only in American Oak and finished in Chateau d’Yquem Sauternes casks. Lightly peated, non chill-filtered and colouring free, like Laddies tend to be.

Artsy whisky – like tasting EYES WIDE SHUT

The progressive Hebridean distillers at Bruichladdich distillery have made so much impact on me, that this 15 year old single malt by them was bit of a disappointment. Probably the greatness of Laddie Ten gave me high hopes about every Laddie dram, I bump into. Like the score shows, this wasn’t bad at all. They’ve just set the bar so high.

Anyway, an interesting whisky, but a bit too delicate for my taste. Can I say complex, yet without any character (if that makes any sense at all)? Like a movie too artsy, manages to lose its audience midway through the film. And grabs you back right at the end. I think that’s just what happened to me with me Eyes Wide Shut and Bruichladdich 15YO for the first time. The movie still keeps getting better after seeing it few times. Too bad that the Laddie was only a sample, not a whole bottle. Because I think that this dram is one those whiskies, you need to come back to again and again, before you start to dig it.

Full bottle of Laddie 15 and this might be a different kind of review. Sampling just doesn’t always do the justice.

Matured in:

Ex-Bourbon and Ex-Sherry casks

Colour: Pale straw

Nose: Starts with very strong raspberry marmalade saturated with liquor. Then it turns into minty and dark, with sugared fruits and hints of oak. Spicy as well.

Taste: Oak dryness with fruity and malty notes. The palate is bit minty too.

Finish: Nicely long and quite dry. Some of that light peat is involved, along with fruits and malt.

Balance: Gentle and smooth in every step. Not a big character but still interesting with a mix of dryness and sweet spots. I think there was little bit of complexity, but it was hard to spot all the flavors from the mellow palate.