This unpeated malt from Bruichladdich spent its entire maturation in a sauternes barrique— it just so happens I think Bruichladdich and sauternes are a match made in heaven that amplifies their funkier qualities. This release was part of the final set of Jim McEwan’s signature collection.

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Whisky: Bruichladdich 13 Year (2010), Dramfool McEwan Signature Collection 9.1

Country/Region: Scotland/Islay

ABV: 63%

Cask: Premier Cru Supérieur Sauternes Barrique

Age: 13 Years (Distilled 16 Sept. 2010, Bottled Jan. 2024)

Notes: Creamy and fruity, the aroma was spirited and lively with plenty of soft serve frozen yogurt, vanilla, digestif biscuits, toffee chips, and fruit sauces— flashbacks to the frozen yogurt places popular a decade or so ago. Peppery, sweet, and fruity— like a bag of exotic fruit jelly beans: cherimoya, chico, and a touch of mangosteen. More wood chips and sawdust sat further in as the spirited pepper pulled me toward lumber and wood stain. Medium-bodied on the palate and only occasionally peppery and spirited, the flavor profile was creamy and buttery with loads of exotic tropical fruits— more custardy cherimoya, brown sugar chico, and creamy-peachy mangosteen. Creamy yogurt and chopped piri mango promised breakfast, while a touch of salt left me thinking shoyu and green mango. The finish was long and peppery with creamy tropical fruits.

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Score: 8 (88)

Mental Image: Free Flow Fruit Breakfast Buffet

Conclusion: I was not prepared for the tropical fruit explosion on this whisky— especially uncommon tropical fruits, though some of my favorites. I do not blame anyone for not liking the sandy texture of chico fruit, but that concentrated brown sugar goodness is fantastic. This dram had it in spades, along with enough cream that I imagined cherimoya and mangosteen. It was all rather peppery, and that was truthfully one of the only things holding this back from breaking into the very top tier. I put it just a peg under the “Mad Yacht Queen,” which was a very similar age/maturation to this Laddie— clearly I need more sauternes Laddie in my life.