Bruichladdich 18 Year Old: # 549

[@christinecamley]

Fabulous! Worth every penny!

[@welshtoro3256]

Well done lads, I've been waiting for your review of this one. I love Bruichladdich/Port Charlotte but I was holding back because the price isn't cheap even in the U.K. The distillery either makes excellent value or very poor value without much middle ground unfortunately. I know from the cask descriptors and age that this is the kind of whisky right up my alley. By the way, Glendronach, back in the Billy Walker days, did a superb 12 year ex-Sauternes (Chateau d'Yquem) expression - the like of which we will never see again. I really love actual Sauternes wine. That white peach you're smelling Mike? That is Sauternes with with every white fruit, rose and honey reduced to a delicious concentrate, plus some decent 18 year old ex-bourbon casks. Let's face it, the days of top dressing 18 year old whisky with older stuff are long gone but 18 years in fine casks can be good enough as we know from quality single barrels. I think the two of you get too caught up with the "farmyard" stuff because this is 18 year old whisky after all and we have some good age and casks, plus great distillate here fellas. Can I just add that whenever I hear the term 'Graham cracker' to any whisky descriptor I want to weep. We spend our inheritance on this stuff and I don't want it compared to gummy bears and crackers. Anyway, love the review and bravo to Dustin for jumping in and getting a bottle. I agree that 50% needs no water and that, incidentally, is my favourite (no water) strength, known as 'Golden Strength.' We all know that 18 year whisky is shooting up in price but I suspect that this is way better than all of them and it's just got one foot in my purchase wheelhouse. I've been cracking my stash because of prices and it's an eye opener guys. 18 year old ex-bourbon Caperdonich (Closed distillery), Benriach 17 PX finish, Old Pulteney 21, my old Laphroaig 15, etc. All amazing whisky from a different age which we used to enjoy. I really hope this Bruichladdich can hold it's own. Agree with Dustin that making a great whisky without a predictable peat shortcut is a good thing. 10 year old peat can taste great but I love some old school sophistication without it. WT

[@topshelfdustin3060]

Cheers Welsh, glad this one gets your approval! But gram crackers will always be a high end experience for me. Takes me back to camping out with friends and family and roasting marshmallows

[@welshtoro3256]

@@topshelfdustin3060 Well, ultimately I munch them with a lot of stuff. Those aroma profiles stay with us for life don't they? I still associate a lot of whisky with sensations from the distant past I can't put my finger on because they've vanished. Childhood things so long ago. Cheers.

[@primewhisky]

Great whisky😋great video guys👍🏻

[@topshelfwhisky]

Thank you 😋

[@boswineguy5461]

Sounds great, I may have to grab one 🥃

[@jb3065]

Thanks for reviewing this one. I have had three pours and I was stumped. It was good, but, I couldn't figure it out.

[@topshelfwhisky]

go back, maybe with more time open it will help.

[@christinecamley]

This is delicious! Fabulous thoughts guys! I do love Bruichladdich 18!! Cheers!! 🙂

[@topshelfwhisky]

I was pleasantly surprised

[@christinecamley]

Love Sauternes when done well! Delicious! Happy to pay the cost! When scotch is well done I am fine with a high end price. I don’t get as much barn yard as you guys. Love the sour part of the malt. Rich sweets right on. Cheers!!

[@biofixphysicaltherapy5353]

You guys get ur hands on some good stuff 👍

[@topshelfwhisky]

We give it effort 🤣🤣

[@NoteworthyWhisky]

Nice notes! I’m SO glad I picked one up. Cheers, Guys!

[@garyk3675]

Great to hear this review - some others have been less enthusiastic about this one. I haven’t opened mine yet, but now look forward to it!

[@garyk3675]

If you do an 18 yo series, please add Ledaig 18!

[@topshelfwhisky]

We were impressed with some of the reviews we watched. But wanted to give this one to try and we were glad we did.

[@topshelfdustin3060]

@@garyk3675 that's one I've never seen locally.

[@garyk3675]

@@topshelfdustin3060 ahh yes - i have one i got years ago locally, and the newer one i was only able to get from an online retailer

[@utoobia]

I wanted to love this. I’m about 2/3 of the way through the bottle and just can’t get to where you guys are. It’s quite good, but at $180? Nope. It’s pretty subtle and tame to my palate, just not enough there. I’m not passing final judgement yet though. As it is now, I would buy the Bere Barley over this and save $75. You mentioned Hazelburn 10…I take that over this one too. Cheers.

[@topshelfwhisky]

We did have some time with oxidation. Sounds like you’re doing the same.

[@PaulAlabama]

Dustin is BAAACK

[@topshelfwhisky]

Flat tires and dead alternators can only stop Dustin for so long!

[@topshelfdustin3060]

Oh man....my alternator died as mike commented on. So I had to pass on the 100 mile drive to mike's. Then after replacing that and half a dozen other seals and hoses and belts....I blew a tire 2 days after getting it back from the longest stay at the dealer ever! Was a nighmare and a 4k one! #superchat lol. But it's good to be back and honestly the worst is I'm sad I missed hanging with Keith! we sometimes give eachother some crap on here, but he's a great guy and one of my favorite people to drink with.

[@lucabrazzi531]

Wonderful Whiskey . $165. in Brooklyn , NY

[@WhiskyMystery]

I was about to buy it at The Good Spirits Co Glasgow. But we went around the corner and tried first at The Pot Still. Thought it was a bit lacking in the second half and were happy to pass. We did try it along side the recent Local Barley 😛

[@topshelfdustin3060]

how was the 8 year old LB? But I think you might like this one going back blind buddy. It's pretty exceptional.

[@WhiskyMystery]

@@topshelfdustin3060 It was the 13 LB I think.

[@topshelfdustin3060]

@@WhiskyMystery oh well reviewed that one. Good, not their best. But that one was pretty nice

[@AlexDraut]

Um, I've been asking for Hardin's Creek 2 for a while now. So... Chop chop! Lol cheers!

[@topshelfdustin3060]

2 year old bourbon violates youtube community guidelines.

[@AlexDraut]

@@topshelfdustin3060 Oh ye of little faith, lol.

[@christinecamley]

Definitely white grape fruit!!

[@TheReal_DeanD]

Very interesting. JustWhisky on KZbin said this one is so so. The palates amongst reviewers is amazing. I was thinking I would pass on this one as I chose the PC 18. I may now get it for $190 before tax in the store by me.

[@topshelfwhisky]

We jumped on the port Charlotte initially as well. If I had told myself then, that I would enjoy this as well as I did, I wouldn’t of believed it.

[@topshelfdustin3060]

If you like a bit of white wine notes and love hazelburn 10, this is an absolute must. If that HB10 finish and white wine doesn't sound good at all, pass. But even if you're wondering...I'd say do it. It worked here so well.

[@TheReal_DeanD]

@@topshelfdustin3060man if I could hug you I would. That is super helpful to me. Really it is. The white wine note of the Bruichladdich classic laddie didn’t agree with me. But it has been ages since I had my Hazelburn 10. Just found an excuse to drink it. Research purposes. Thanks again man.

[@utoobia]

@@TheReal_DeanDI’m hard pressed to think of a young, unpeated whisky better than Hazelburn 10. It’s a true beauty and well worth the $100 price I’ve been paying.

[@TheReal_DeanD]

@@utoobia Nice!!! you're so lucky to even be able to buy Hazelburn 10 year. Great you were able to score them. In my area I have not seen it on a shelf at any price since 2019.

[@teddyballgame25]

TBH I’m surprised you guys liked it as much as you did. I think this a bottle that the quality grades higher than my enjoyment. The farmy notes are hard to get past. To me it feels like it needs/would benefit from peat.

[@topshelfdustin3060]

TBH, I am too! I didn't expect to like this much. And because I just assumed the farmy notes wouldn't be for me either. But that finish...man that's my cup of tea!

[@DonnerPassWhisky]

Love this stuff ! My bottle went down too fast 😅. Is it too expensive? Yes. However, compared to what this distillery has been putting out for many years, not really. MC:01 MRC:01 and the many other cask exploration series bottles that were all single digit age and $130-150 or more Beere Barley, Islay Barley, Organic Barley releases again all single digit age at around $100. Octomore at 5 years for over $200. Taking that into perspective, this 18 year old is a more reasonable choice for me. This has the long lingering finish that age gets you and lots of subtle complexity to spend time seeking out. Cheers guys

[@christinecamley]

Agreed.

[@steveno7058]

This is a good one at under $200 usd. Not many 18 year at 50% under $200 now

[@topshelfwhisky]

@@steveno7058 maybe the new Laphroaig 18 will give this a run

[@steveno7058]

@@topshelfwhisky possibly. Also Ledaig 18 as a dark horse

[@ersguteratze]

Salt is never ever in contact with Whisky. Its only your brain because a phenolic combination. Excuse my English but you can read about that.✌🏻

[@steveno7058]

Wrong. Trace amounts of salt can seep through the wood or during the distillation process

[@ersguteratze]

​No. Definitly not. Its a combination of a smell that your brain think its salt in your mouth.​@@steveno7058

[@ersguteratze]

Citrus is your enemy too but believe me. No cask is salty.​@@steveno7058

[@christinecamley]

Nooo to adding water!

[@topshelfwhisky]

Agreed, we always do for reviews but this was its best, neat.

[@christinecamley]

@@topshelfwhisky Right on! How's your baby? I hope everything is going well for mom and little one!!

[@christinecamley]

I was worried it would be too sweet which I dislike! No youth here although I have no problem with a youthful peated expression. I never get the Dimetapp!

[@topshelfdustin3060]

Do you get a strong grape?

[@christinecamley]

@@topshelfdustin3060 Mild grape. I know the taste of Dimetapp from giving it to my kids when they were little but I don't really taste it. I will try again!! 🙂

[@topshelfdustin3060]

@@christinecamley haha, to me it's an intense grape flavor. Remember I had it AS a kid...so don't try and think of it as a mom :) You have an adult taste. I am remembering it as a kid.

[@christinecamley]

@@topshelfdustin3060 Great point Dustin!!! Hey my oldest daughter, 22, is off to med school today! Very proud! The 20 yo and 18 yo kiddos, daughter and son, are off to 3rd year undergrad and 1st year uni! All in mom!! I will take a swig of Dimetapp (still have some here!!) and use my adult palette!! Lol!! You rock - awesome humour!! 🙂

[@topshelfdustin3060]

@@christinecamley oh wow, med school congrats to her and of course the mother who got her there! And I guess the other kids now have to get PhD's...rough family standards :)