What they say

2) Bruichladdich Islay Barley 2004, 58.4% abv, 1st fill bourbon

Raymond Stewart pioneered growing malting barley for Bruichladdich in 2004. He’d inspire many more farming partners to join us in our home-grown Islay barley project, with an average of 18 farms now raising conventional crops for us. Some would even go on to grow rye, but this was the very first harvest on Islay dedicated for whisky making in almost a century.

What I say

Celebrating Bruichladdich day on 31st may during Feis Ile 2021 with a Masterclass from Head Distiller Adam Hannett. Sample #2 was from the first distillate from Islay grown barley.

• ABV 58.4%
• Age 16 Years Old
• Bottler Official
• Bottling Single Cask
• Cask American Oak
• Category Single Malt Whisky
• Cost n/a
• Origin Bruichladdich Distillery
• Outturn n/a
• Region Islay
• Released Feis Ile 2021
• Vintage 2004

My tasting notes:

• Appearance White Burgundy (5/20), slow, large tears and thick legs.
• Nose Vanilla, egg custard tarts, nutty, marzipan, floral honeysuckle, heather honey, apple, pear, peach, apricot, malted barley, oak wood chips, peach jelly and cereal grassy hay.
• Taste Full-bodied, mineralic, spiced and spirity, marzipan, heather honey sweetness, orange citrus zest, peach, fresh sea spray, toffee, caramel, oak wood and cocoa powder.
• Finish Long, soft, sweet, mineralic, peach jelly and toasted oak chips.
• Overall Thanks to the Islay-grown barley this cask/distillate has much more up-front minerality and also much more barley ‘husk’ and nutty cereal flavour.

Score 87/100

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