Whisky: Bruichladdich 17 Year (2002), The Cask Whisperer

Country/Region: Scotland/Islay

ABV: 53.5%

Cask: Wine Cask

Age: 17 Years (Distilled 2002, Bottled 2020)

Nose: Dried orchard fruits, milk chocolate with hints of caramel and mint, dried grass and earth with a mellow hint of farm, slightly lactic and cheesy with more time.

Palate: Medium-bodied, dried orchard fruits with pomegranate, milk chocolate with a touch of musk and orange, brown sugar, dried grass and heather, subtle earth and old straw, more ginger and cola toward the end.

Finish: Medium-length with earth, ginger, and cola.

Score: 7 (84)

Mental Image: Cocoa Cola Brownie

Narrative & Notes: Dried apple and pear slices arrived first with milk chocolate candies, caramel, and hints of menthol.  Dried grass followed close behind with a slightly funky farm and earthiness that slowly moved toward goat cheese, apricots, pepper, and orange as lactic notes built with a cream-cheesy quality.  Medium-bodied and mildly oily, on the palate were loads of dried fruits, brown sugar, herbs, and cola.  Dried apples and pears ran with pomegranate molasses toward a bar of milk chocolate infused with musk, orange, and raspberry.  Light brown sugar lingered in the background with heather, dried grass, musty hay bales, and a mellow earthiness that approached but never committed to barn or farm funk.  Toward the end was a delightfully effervescent ginger and cola.  The finish was medium-length with earth, ginger, and cola.

Initially shy and slow to open up, my patience was rewarded with plenty of the classic lactic and creamy funky elements for which Bruichladdich is known. During subsequent tastings, those lactic and funky features appeared more quickly.  However, those delightful qualities were missing on the palate, which was straightforward as orchard fruits led to chocolate, grass, and subtle ginger and cola.  I love cola notes, so that was a smashing finale and a beautiful finish.

Overall, well-integrated and only slightly spirited, though that seemed to fade with enough time to rest on the glass.  I found this delightfully well-balanced between malt and cask or richness and crispness.

Image Credit: WhiskyAuctioneer