Whisky: Bruichladdich 16 Year (1989) Full Strength

Country/Region: Scotland/Islay

ABV: 56.2%

Cask: Sherry Butt

Age: 16 Years (Distilled 1989, Bottled 23 Aug. 2005)

Nose: Wood and leather, coastal beaches, musty gardens, mulch, caramelized stone fruit, almond paste.

Palate: Medium-bodied, dirty sherry, musty garden, peppercorns, lamp oil, leather, wood, almond paste and dates, slightly coastal with motor oil and mothballs; more pepper and brine at the end.

Finish: Medium to long with leather, dates, a kiss of salt, and pepper.

Score: 7-8 (85)

Mental Image: Garden Shed Plundering

Narrative & Notes: Garden sheds by the beach emerged from the woodsy and slightly maritime aroma with old leather gloves, musty benches, forgotten tools, and wood lacquer.  Mulch and linseed oil sat opposite caramelized stone fruits and dates stuffed with sweet almond paste. Medium-bodied with dirty sherry notes of that old musty garden shed lit with an oil lamp, leather gloves, wooden ducks, wood shavings, and almond stuffed dates for a snack. Driftwood with a touch of motor oil, dark bread, and mothballs lingered in the background with a soft beachy maritime brine and peppery spirit toward the end. The finish was medium to long with leather, dates, a kiss of salt, and pepper.

I am not entirely sure what possessed me to bid on this bottle and why no one topped me. There is not a whole lot of pre-mothball Laddie hanging around out there and even less of it at cask strength. This bore only a passing semblance to the modern spirit produced at the distillery with none of the characteristic lactic qualities or funkiness. Rather, this had a savory sherry quality, especially the woody musty garden shed— I pictured my grandparents backyard shed as there were leathery and earthy elements that starkly reminded me of some unsupervised explorations.

Overall, cask dominant, yes, but without some of the massive tannins and sticky sweet qualities I do not enjoy on the prototypical sherry bomb. This had some intriguing motor oil and dirtiness to it, that I really loved.  It was occasionally a bit spirited and peppery, but generally the flavors were well-balanced and cleanly structured.