Bruichladdich - Whisky Live

The Bruichladdich distillery, erected in 1881, stands proudly on Islay, the picturesque West coast of Scotland. Islay, spanning 25 miles in width and inhabited by just over 3000 individuals, derives its name from its Gaelic roots: “Bruich” translates to “on a hill,” while “Laddich” signifies “beside the shore.” Combined, “Bruichladdich” evokes the meaning of “The hill beside the shore or the sea.”

At Bruichladdich Distillery, our mission is to craft the most natural, thought-provoking, intellectually stimulating, and enjoyable spirits possible. We are Progressive Hebridean Distillers. With a steadfast commitment to sustainability, we strive to redefine our practices in energy, agriculture, biodiversity, packaging, waste management, and community engagement on Islay. Our distillery proudly produces four distinct spirits: Bruichladdich, Port Charlotte, Octomore single malt whiskies, and The Botanist Islay dry gin.

Bruichladdich

Named in homage to the original distillery constructed in 1881 by the Harvey family, Bruichladdich whiskies are characterized by their non-peated profile, a shift made in 1961 as American preferences veered towards unpeated malts.

Port Charlotte

Honouring the Loch Indaal distillery, which operated from 1829 to 1929 in Port Charlotte, this expression boasts a heavily peated profile, with a phenol content of 40ppm.

Octomore

Paying tribute to another erstwhile distillery owned by the Montgomery family from 1816 to 1852, Octomore is also named after the farm from which we source our .3 expressions. Owned by James Brown, Octomore Farm adds to the legacy of this revered whisky.

Bruichladdich Classic Laddie

The essence of our Classic Laddie lies not in a rigid recipe, but in a distilling ethos. We eschew uniformity in favour of embracing the diverse nuances imparted by our barley selection and the array of casks we procure year after year, fostering a rich tapestry of flavours within our warehouse.

• Unpeated Whisky
• Made from 100% Scottish barley.
• Aged in American & French oak casks.
• 10 different casks blended & replaced back into a cask for marrying.
• 50% ABV
• No Colouring
• None Chill filtered
• Hand crafted whisky – through traditional methods & no computers

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Barley sugar, hints of mint & buttercup
Palate: Fruits drift in with Atlantic influences
Finish: unforgettable

We choose to bottle our Classic Laddie at 50% alcohol by volume, surpassing the typical range of 40-46%. At this strength, the essence of our spirit shines through, offering a pronounced barley-forward character—a testament to our dedication in sourcing premium Scottish malt. We refuse to dilute our spirit to compromise quality for the sake of profit.

Bruichladdich Islay Barley 2013

Bruichladdich Islay Barley 2013 is crafted from barley cultivated on seven farms scattered across our island. This spirit is aged in a blend of 75% full-term first-fill American whiskey casks and 25% second-fill European wine casks, including Ribero Del Duero, Syrah, and Pauillac varieties.

• Unpeated whisky
• 100% Islay grown Scottish barley (Concerto barley variety)
• No colouring & Non-Chill filtered.
• Distilled in 2013, Single vintage expression.
• Aged 8 years in Islay.
• matured in 75% full term first fill American whiskey casks & 25% second fill European wine casks (Ribero Del Duero, Syrah & Pauillac).
• 50% ABV

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Delicate cereal notes open up into honeyed porridge, lemon meringue pie & malt sweets.
Palate: Citrus bursts of lemon, sweet apricot jam & melted fudge.
Finish: A cereal yet floral beginning, ends with a balanced yet complex character of apricot, lemon & vanilla.

Port Charlotte 10 Year Old

Distilled, matured, and bottled exclusively on Islay, this Port Charlotte 10-year-old is a whisky crafted by human hands, not algorithms. It is meticulously overseen throughout its maturation by those who brought it to life, embodying the spirit of a community with a shared vision and mission to ignite a single malt whisky revolution. This Port Charlotte 10-year-old is our identity. It reflects our roots and our ethos.

• 40PPM
• 10 years of age
• 100% Scottish Barley from Inverness shire region
• 50% ABV
• 65% First Fill American Oak Cask
• 10% Second Fill American Oak Cask
• 25% French Wine Casks
• Matured & bottled on Islay using spring water from Islay

Tasting Notes:
Nose: Salted caramel brownie, flamed orange peel and salty breeze.
Palate: oaky smoke and salt air, custard cream, biscuit, and white grape
Finish: Ginger snap, rye toast, dry (peat smoke)

Our Port Charlotte 10-year-old expression embodies the quintessence of what an Islay whisky can and should represent

We firmly believe that an authentic “Islay” whisky should embody the bracing sea breeze and salty tang of Islay air throughout its entire existence. It is not merely a spirit distilled on the island and promptly transported to the mainland for aging in undisclosed warehouses.

Port Charlotte Islay Barley 2014

The Port Charlotte Islay Barley 2014 epitomizes the essence of an Islay whisky, encompassing all the qualities one expects from the region. In addition to enhancing the complexity and richness of this single malt, the barley grown on Islay transcends mere flavour, evoking an authentic sense of terroir and place. Heavily Peated whisky at PPM (40)

• 100% Islay Concerto and Propino barley
• Heavily Peated
• Distilled in 2014 from the 2013
• 7 Aged Years
• Maturation: 84% first fill bourbon casks, 8% second fill Virgin oak and 8% second fill wine casks
• 40 parts per million (PPM)
• 50% ABV
• Farms Cruach, Craigens, Island, Dunlossit, Coull, Rockside, Sunderland and Mulindry Farms

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Delicate floral notes of lily and geranium before warm orange zest and dried earthy peat smoke brings body and gravity. Cherry coconut and malted barley jostle with apricot and melon.
Palate: Light peat smoke, sweet oak with coconut, caramel, vanilla, muscovado sugar & almonds. A dram that is gentle on the palate yet has a tremendous depth of flavour.
Finish: The finish shows the balance. The smoke, fruit, oak and floral notes melt into each other, and a beautiful creamy texture allows melon, peach and cherry to come through.

Bottled at a robust 50% ABV and imbued with a peat level of 40 PPM, this expression matures predominantly in first-fill bourbon casks (84%), complemented by 8% in second-fill Virgin oak casks and 8% in second-fill Bordeaux wine casks. With initial impressions of malty digestive biscuits and a smoky essence, this 2014 release evolves into a delightful medley of apricot, peach, and ripe melon, striking a harmonious balance between fruitiness and smokiness.

Octomore

Octomore single malt has challenged conventional whisky wisdom ever since its introduction in 2008. Aged for five years, consistently featuring an exceptionally high peat level, and bottled at or near cask strength, Octomore’s remarkable refinement has prompted us to characterize it as “The Impossible Equation.”

Octomore 14.1

At the core of the 14th annual Octomore series, the 14.1 expression serves as a fundamental reference point, providing a necessary benchmark for the progression and evolution of the other variants. Aged for five years in first-fill ex-American whiskey casks, the 14.1 exemplifies the potency and potential of its essential raw components.

• 100% Scottish grown Concerto barley
• Super Heavily Peated
• 9 parts per million (PPM)
• Distilled in 2017 from the 2016 harvest.
• 5 Aged Years
• First-fill ex-American whiskey casks
• 6% ABV

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Smoked vanilla, sweet caramel, and toffee notes open on the nose, with sooty smoke balanced with delicate coconut and flaked almonds. There is an unmistakable earthy smokiness and a hint of citrus, with lemon meringue pie cutting through rich barbeque pork.

Palate: Bright citrus, smoke and a distinct minerality come through on the palate, followed by charred oak and beach bonfire embers. Toffee and creamy vanilla are balanced with the earthy smoke, with bright notes of pear, gooseberry fool and green apple simultaneously adding brightness and depth. Roasted coffee, hints of clove and nutmeg begin to come to the fore, with a gentle hint of heather honey.

Finish: Butterscotch and vanilla are balanced with Octomore’s signature earthy peat smoke and a hint of salt spray, with burnt heather and gorse flowers settling on the finish.

Octomore 14.2

Octomore 14.2 uses the same barley varietal and is malted to the same PPM as the 14.1, but the liquids diverge profoundly with the influence of wine and sherry casks on the 14.2 spirit.

With a staggering array of over 200 cask varieties housed in the warehouses, Head Distiller Adam Hannett meticulously handpicks casks previously imbued with Oloroso and Amarone wines, resulting in an extraordinary single malt with distinct sweetness and nuttiness.

Originating from the esteemed wine regions of Spain and Italy, respectively, the spirits are harmoniously united within French oak, bestowing remarkable depth and complexity upon the single malt. Octomore’s iconic intensely smoky profile harmoniously marries Oloroso sherry casks, enhancing the final spirit with a robust, savory character.

Furthermore, the influence of the Amarone cask oak leaves a significant imprint on the spirit, infusing it with luscious red fruit notes that lend structure and coherence to the 14.2 expression.

• Barley Provenance: 100% Scottish grown Concerto barley
• Super Heavily Peated
• PPM: 128.9 parts per million (PPM)
• Distilled in 2017 from the 2016 harvest.
• 5 Aged Years
• Aged 4 years in the Oloroso (40%), Amarone 1st fill (16%) & Amarone 2nd fill (44%), followed by 1 year in Pauillac wine casks.
• 7% ABV

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Leather, prunes, red currants, and malted barley come to the fore, followed by toasted oak and hints of cinnamon, green apple, and black pepper. Waves of smoke and distinct red fruits follow, complemented with cereal notes of malt and porridge. The peat smoke is dry and brooding, with a hint of burnt heather and subtle pipe tobacco from the oak.

Palate: The influence of the European oak is unmissable, with a touch of dryness balanced with the vibrancy of wood spices, smoked oak, and roasted coffee. Barbeque sweetness and a crack of black pepper is complemented with rich fruit cake and dried fruits. A drop of water opens the smoke and fruity sweetness from the wine casks, bringing a beautiful balance as notes of apple and pear grow with the dram.

Finish: Smoked malt, smouldering oak, and sea salt settle on the finish as Octomore’s signature earthy smoke lingers.

Octomore 14.3

Octomore 14.3 demonstrates the extraordinary pursuit of flavour when combining super-heavy peat with the variable local harvests from its island home.

Crafted from Islay barley cultivated just two miles from the distillery on Octomore farm, Octomore 14.3 showcases a cereal-centric single malt that Honors the profound influence of its natural, raw ingredient and pays homage to the revitalization of the local farming community.

Under the expert guidance of Head Distiller Adam Hannett, the flavour essence of Islay barley is skilfully extracted in this high-provenance single malt. Maturing in a blend of first-fill ex-American whiskey casks and second-fill wine casks, the oak nuances delicately enhance the barley’s essence without overshadowing it, capturing the essence of the terroir and the distinct flavour of Islay barley.

• 100% Octomore farm, Islay grown Concerto barley.
• Super Heavily Peated
• PPM: 214.2 parts per million (PPM)
• Distilled in 2017 from the 2016 harvest.
• 5 Aged Years
• 50% First-fill ex-American whisky casks. 50% Second-fill wine casks
• 4% ABV

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Whisking you away to the tranquil courtyard of the Bruichladdich Distillery, the air is redolent with the unmistakable scent of warm, sweet mash wafting through the senses. Following closely behind is the gentle aroma of biscuity malt, accompanied by the earthy allure of peat smoke and a medley of luscious, ripe stone fruits, including succulent apricots, velvety peaches, and honey-drenched pears. Delicate notes of candied lemon peel impart a subtle citrusy tang, harmoniously balanced by the rich indulgence of butterscotch, the delightful crunch of honeycomb, the decadence of chocolate, and the creamy sweetness of vanilla ice cream.

Palate: Delicate oak notes immediately come through, followed by the presence of smouldering peat. Floral hints of gorse and honeysuckle rise above the malty Islay-grown barley, which is rich and sweet with creamy porridge and cereal notes. The structure of the French oak, together with the sweet vanilla and toffee of the American oak, combine beautifully, bringing a harmonious balance to the palate.

Finish: Malted barley and earthy smoke dominate, followed by lingering notes of sweet barley sugar. Caramel and vanilla add a final touch of rounded sweetness.