Bruichladdich Islay Barley 2013

Bruichladdich was built by Barnett Harvey in 1881. Five years later, the Bruichladdich Distillery Company was founded and renovation and refurbishment commenced. The "Laddie", as it is affectionately known, is often considered to be the fruitiest, most inventive Islay malt and, indeed, there has been some contention as to whether it has truly attained Islay-status. Bruichladdich countered this with the introduction of the Port Charlotte range and later with the 2008-released Octomore, the world's most heavily peated whisky with a phenol content of 131ppm. Then the distillery went almost the complete opposite direction and created The Botanist Gin!

The gentle character of the spirit is attributed by some to the milder weather conditions at Bruichladdich's locality, sheltered, as it is, from Mother Nature by the Rhinns, the rugged Islay mountain range. Following the death of the then owner, Barnett's son William Harvey IV in 1936, the distillery was run by Kenneth Harvey and sold a year later to Joseph Hobbs for the sum of £23,000. Silent for the latter part of the Second World War, Bruichladdich closed its in-house maltings in 1961, bringing malt in from the Islay maltings at Port Ellen. Enjoying good fortunes, further stills were added in 1975 to grapple increasing demand.

Blenders Whyte and Mackay acquired the distillery under Invergordon Distillers in 1993. Just two years later, production ceased and in 2000 the distillery was purchased by Murray McDavid for £6.5m. The former Bowmore manager, Jim McEwan was brought in as Production Director, and in July of 2001 distillation began once more. Today the range is vast; many cask finishes, or 'ACE'd (additional cask enhancement) whiskies, have been released as well as the formerly mentioned peated offerings and, following a few successful years, the "Laddie's" future looks promising.

For almost two decades now, Bruichladdich have shown the permanence of their commitment to barley provenance. Aided by the determination of their farming partners, this Bruichladdich Islay Barley 2013 is the eighth edition of unpeated, locally grown single malt.

While each expression from the individual growing season is subtly nuanced, a signature maritime-citrus, barley forward style has developed in these complex single malts.

This newest vintage of unpeated Bruichladdich Islay Barley features the harvest from the 2012 growing season, later distilled in 2013.

The crop was raised across seven island farms, by Hunter Jackson at Cruach, Andrew and Donald Jones at Coull, Mark French at Rockside, Ian McKerrell at Island, Alistair Torrance at Mulindry, Raymond Fletcher at Dunlossit and Raymond Stewart at Sunderland.

The resulting spirit was matured in a combination of ex-American and ex-European oak casks for eight years.

Tasting Notes

Nose: Melted butter, sea shores, nectarine, a smidge of floral sweetness.

Palate: Honeyed cereal, almond, nutmeg, peach, vanilla pod earthiness.

Finish: A late hint of citrus oil develops.