Whisky: Bruichladdich 15 Year (2003), The Cask Whisperer

Country/Region: Scotland/Islay

ABV: 55.2%

Cask: Sherry Cask

Age: 15 Years (Distilled 2003, Bottled 2019)

Nose: Bins of dried fruits— apricots, kiwis, and dates— matched up with sea asparagus and sea buckthorn for a concentrated fruity, tangy, salty aroma; mellow earth and dried grass in the background with a touch of meaty sulfur.

Palate: Medium-bodied, oily, concentrated fruits over earth, sea, and dried grass; sea buckthorn, apricot, and plums popped with sea asparagus, earthy cured mushroom, and hints of roasted seaweed; a touch of blow-torched Shoyu and white miso emerged from some slightly sulfurous cask funk.

Finish: Medium to long and meaty with earth and a kiss of salt.

Score: 7 (84)

Mental Image: Vegan Omakase Experience

Narrative & Notes: This might have been my favorite Cask Whisperer release so far, at least of the ones I have tried, which included casks of Port Charlotte and Bruichladdich; I still have a few Octomore and a Lochindaal to get to.

I loved this whisky's balanced and well-integrated flavors and the slightly dirty sulfur-earth that lurked in the background. Initially quite fruity, a bit of sherry funk always lingered, gradually pulling the aroma toward earth and grass.  Those notes were more prevalent on the palate and kept the profile from feeling one-note, overly cask-driven, or too sweet. Unpeated Bruichladdich may not be my favorite style produced at the distillery, but it worked beautifully with the cask in this instance.

Overall, a fine dram that left me imagining a vegan omakase— perhaps because someone was telling me about their delicious experience. I imagined mushrooms and sea asparagus meeting over torched rice and a slightly fruity glaze… I have no idea if that is accurate, but the whisky left me craving mushrooms.