What they say

3) Bruichladdich Bere 2009, 59.8% abv, 1st fill bourbon

Bere barley was first grown for Bruichladdich on Islay in 2005, and first grown in Orkney in 2007. This 2009 vintage is therefore not the first of either crops to be grown, but is the oldest we had in our warehouses. The six-row ancient landrace is a beautifully complex cereal, both in terms of flavour profile and its potential within academic and grain-breeding circles.

What I say

Celebrating Bruichladdich day on 31st may during Feis Ile 2021 with a Masterclass from Head Distiller Adam Hannett. Sample #3 represents the first distillation of the heritage Bere Barley grown on Orkney.

• ABV 59.8%
• Age 12 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 2009

My tasting notes:

• Appearance Eiswein (7/20), medium-fine tears and superfine legs.
• Nose Cereal, grassy, oaty, flapjack, heather honey, floral, strawberry or raspberry – like ripple ice cream, pineapple, jellied fruits apple, pear.
• Taste Full-bodied, polished on the palate, caraml and caramac bar, toffee, yoghurt, pear, melon, fruity berries, cherry, creamy, cereal straw, hay, well-textured and rounded, soft Scottish tablet and tobacco leaf and a hint of mineralic sea salt.
• Finish Long, earthy cereal straw and barley sugars, sweet and smooth.
• Overall The best so far for me, generous fruits but really well textured and rounded, there is a real depth in this that comes from the Bere Barley which just adds that extra something to the palate here.

Score 89/100

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