Review 32 & 33: Bruichladdich Classic Laddie and Islay Barley

Bruichladdich Classic Laddie

I have always wanted to try Bruichladdich but my scotch guy has steered me away from them. He is of opinion that they went downhill after the acquisition. While I never got to try the Laddie 10, which put them back on the map, I get to try its NAS successor, the Classic Laddie.

Islay - NAS - NCF - NCA - Sample ($55 at the local) - 50%

Color - Yellow Gold

Nose - Honeydew, plastic, some heat on this nose, wild flowers, and perfume. After nosing, the plastic all went away.

Taste - Nice mouthfeel, Honey, cereal, apples, new wood, sweet custard

Finish - Medium Short - Dairy and cereal, sponge cake

Overall - 5.5 - This whiskey tasted more like a highland ex-bourbon than an Islay to me. This is probably the absence of peat. While enjoyable enough of a dram, it just isn't that interesting or original. The nose was fun, but then while the whisky had solid body, it just seemed unoriginal. The finish is disappointingly short and again, not that exciting. This whisky does taste young, I wish I had gotten a chance to try the Laddie 10, a little age might go a long way.

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Bruichladdich Islay Barley

This is from what I understand, the Classic Laddie, but instead of using barley sourced from all over Scotland, it only sources barley from Islay.

Islay - NAS- NCF - NCA - Sample ($60 at the local) - 50%

Color - Old Gold

Nose - Sea air, wild flowers, toffee, melon rine

Taste - Once again a great mouth feel, barley, vanilla, sweetness, new wood

Finish - Medium Short - Porridge, toffee,

Overall - 5.5 - This is less milky than classic Laddie but still seems to not be very complex or original. Like the Classic, the nose is the best part of this dram. I had read other reviews and everybody talks about the fruit, but I am not getting any fruit notes on the taste/finish. I am still new at this, but I would say this suffers a little from being young. The result, while enjoyable, is just not that interesting or complex. I do have to say, the mouthfeel in both whiskys is spot on.

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Rating system is price influenced as it is based on my shopping decisions when buying a bottle.

10 Best in Show

9 Great Dram for Special Occasions

8 Worthy of consistent spot in my collection

7 Worth picking up a bottle if in the mood

6 I would buy a bottle if it went on sale

5 I would drink it happily if offered

4 I would drink it if offered on the rocks

3 Maybe some soda will make this potable

2 I'll Pass

1 Toilet cleaner

Inclusive Ratings

Overall 6.1 (33)

Islay 6.6 (15)

NAS 6.2 (19)