Whisky Focus - Bruichladdich The 10 Year Struggle

Whisky Shops Online

Whisky Books

Whisky Forum

Add To Favourites

Home

Whisky News

The History Of Scotch Whisky

How Scotch Malt Whisky Is Made

How Scotch Grain Whisky Is Made

How Scotch Blended Whisky Is Made

Whisky Producing Regions Of Scotland

How To Drink Your Whisky

Similar Tasting Scotch Whiskies

Recommended Malt Whiskies

A-Z of Single Malt Whisky

A-Z of Blended Whisky

Independent Bottlers

Whisky Liqueurs

Whisky Cocktails

Other Whiskies Of The World

The Laddie Ten

15th September 2011

The Laddie Ten This is without doubt the most important release in Bruichladdich's history, and very much a landmark for the distillery and the Bruichladdich team. It was an intensely emotional day, in the spring of 2001, when they first broke the padlock on the Bruichladdich gates and took charge of this charismatic but much-neglected Victorian distillery on the far west Atlantic coast of Islay.

This spirit, malted from only Scottish barley for authenticity, slow-fermented for purity, trickle-distilled for creamy texture and cask-filled at 70% for extra flavour, has been quietly slumbering in Bruichladdich's loch-side warehouses for the last 10 years, and they are immensely proud to offer this landmark dram to you now.

The Laddie Ten, the true beginning of a new era.

The Laddie 10 Tasting Notes

Producer's Tasting Notes:

Character: Dream fulfilled. Rich and assertive with that unique creaminess of the Laddie. The non chill-filtered spirit drifts serenely over the palate, warming the taste buds. It is going to linger with you as long as malts twice its age.

Colour: Golden medium amber honey tone.

Nose: Precursor to the flavours you will find on the palate: first, a combination of honey and a zing of fresh lemon. Then fresh, estery air bubbles of banana, ,apricot, peach and ripe cantaloupe melon. The backdrop is a hint of the warm, ocean breeze blowing over the sand dunes and shore meadows alive with the waft of wild flowers - Hebridean harmonisation. Given time, and a splash of spring water, the sweet oak brings light vanilla with a hint of nutty chocolate, with the crispness of warm, crusty, freshly baked bread.

Palate: The mellow, oak sweetness is welcoming as are hints of bourbon and gingerbread, sherry and sultanas; and as they move on, there are the lighter, icing sugar-coated fruits. It’s fresh and frictionless, the texture of warm honey - then dry, crispy, malt barley; together with the oak they merge beautifully to cradle the lighter flavours, adding the strong pulse to our long awaited Laddie!

Finish: It’s exceptionally long for a 10 year old thanks to the natural oils from the malted barley still in the spirit. This is critical for the mouth feel and aftertaste, it begs the question – why do distillers remove the very essence of the spirit?

Mood: Expansive. Generous. Sharing a sunset over Lossit beach. It’s a breath of Islay, a rare and precious union of nature and centuries old skills. It has the same passion as that of ‘the men who saw a shining light and thought that they could turn it into a dream’ 10 years ago.