Reviews #43-45: Super Bowl Sunday Bruichladdich SbS. Bruichladdich Laddie 10: Bruichladdich Islay Barley 2009 Claggan, Cruach Island and Mulin Farms: Bruichladdich Islay Barley 2004 Kentraw Farm Foreland

I got told that with the Bruichladdich there is a lot of variation of the vintages. This is visible just in the color (bottle 2 is 2009 and bottle 4 is 2004.) I am excited to SbS these and trying to identify what is similar and what is different.

Bruichladdich Laddie 10

Islay - 10 Years - NCF - NCA - Sample (Price at the local, $55, discontinued) - 46%

Color - Amber and a little cloudy

Nose - Heavy whipping cream, vanilla, toffee - big nose

Taste - Oak, vanilla and cereal - nice mouthfeel for the ABV

Finish - Medium - Toffee and vanilla cream

Overall - 6 - This starts off with a very delightful nose. Heavy on the lactic scents without throwing it out of balance. It falls off on the palate a bit and tastes a little light. I caught a bitter note on the finish, but it went away after the first sip so I dropped from my notes. This is a nice daily dram and from my recollection, a step above the Classic Laddie.

Bruichladdich Islay Barley 2009 Claggan, Cruach Island and Mulin Farms

Islay - 6 Years - NCF - NCA - Sample ($60 at the local) - 50%

Color - Old Gold

Nose - Toffee, sandalwood, much lighter than the Laddie 10 but still has those lactic notes and vanilla

Taste - Dairy, fresh oak, custard

Finish - Medium Long - Sponge cake, oak

Overall - 5.5 - The Bruichladdich lactic notes are again on display. Where this one was comparatively flat to the 10 on the nose, the taste was bigger and the finish was longer. A nice dram from Bruichladdich but not exactly my style.

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Bruichladdich Islay Barley 2004 Kentraw Farm Foreland

Islay- 6 Years - NCF - NCA - Sample ($60 at the local) - 50%

Color - Pale Straw

Nose - Vanilla meringue, very heavy on the lactic, less woody than the others

Taste - Oak tannins, toffee, vanilla

Finish - Medium - Wood, vanilla, whole milk with a little sweetness

Overall - 6 - This one came back on the nose and had a lovely palate. The finish was a smaller/shorter than the 2009. This leaves me wanting to Frankenstein these scotches. The Laddie 10's Nose, the 2009's finish and the 2004's palate, that would be a fantastic dram.

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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