Whisky: Bruichladdich 22 Year (1992), Cadenhead's Small Batch

Country/Region: Scotland/Islay

ABV: 53.4%

Cask: Oak

Age: 22 Years (Distilled 1992)

Nose: Earth and fruit, pears, mud masks, mushrooms, old charred wood, musty unfinished basement, cherry pits, hints of sea and florals.

Palate: Medium-bodied, balanced, berries, florals, oak, beach, maritime, occasionally medicinal herbs, musk and brown sugars toward the end.

Finish: Medium to long with earth, salt, and berries.

Score: 7-8 (86)

Mental Image: Treasure Hunting on the Coast

Narrative & Notes: Earth and fruit took center stage on this mature Bruichladdich, with pears, quince, and persimmons opening up with brown sugar, mud masks, enoki mushrooms, and a musty-earth unfinished basement.  An undercurrent of wood ran throughout with cherry pits, old charred wood, and subtle antiques, while vague notions of saline-rich sea air and beachy florals appeared like mirages in the distance.  Medium-bodied and balanced with a flavor profile that zipped between berries, florals, oak, and a salty shoreline.  An initial wave of blackberries, cassis, and lime washed in a crisp salinity and the occasional notion of charred driftwood.  A hint of mint and medicinal herbs, spices, and citrus rind nodded in my direction as morning glories, plumerias, violets, and a host of vaguely beachy florals developed.  A subtle musk joined the florals with old wooden antiques and brown sugar toward the end.  The finish was medium to long with earth, salt, and berries.

The aroma presented an interesting opening act for the main event; earth and oak dominated the olfactory experience, so I expected something musty on the palate.  I was not expecting a burst of berries, citrus, and herbs.  The floral notes that developed on the mid-palate and lingered through to the finish were teased on the aroma but took a commanding role on the palate.  I am reasonably confident someone could have convinced me this was a very mature, lightly peated Bowmore had I tried it blind.

I have not had the pleasure of trying many examples of pre-shutdown and revival Bruichladdich, so I am not sure where this fits in with the broader sweep of the distillery profile, but I enjoyed this well-structured and complex malt quite a bit.