Bruichladdich Islay barley 2009

Bruichladdich is a whisky distillery on the isle of Islay which was founded in 1881. Bruichladdich, who describe themselves as ‘progressive Hebridean distillers’ can be quite innovative but also quite traditional as they tend to use a lot of old equipment and no computers when making the whisky.

The whisky Bruichladdich Islay barley 2009 is made was distilled from barley grown in 2008 by Gilbie McCormick of Claggan, Hunter Jackson at Cruach, Ian McKerrell of Island and Alastair Torrance from Mulindry. It is non chill filtered and non-coloured. The barley varieties that was used were Publican & Oxbridge barley varieties. Only americn oak casks were used for maturation as they impart less flavour than European oak and in this Islay barley release are all about the terroir of central Islay. The ABV is 50%.

Normally one could not get this much information about any whisky but Bruichladdich is quite transparent about what they put into their whisky. So how does this whisky taste?

Nose: Some tropical fruits
Taste: Malty with some citrus and almost coastal sea water taste
Aftertaste: Citrus and some sea water

For the age of this whisky it is a very god whisky. Only seven years old but feels like a 10-12 year old whisky, very good.