Bruichladdich 18 years old Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky review by WhiskyJason

WhiskyJason reviews Bruichladdich 18 years old Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
The 18-year-old single malt whisky from Bruichladdich's new High Provenance range is made from barley from the Scottish mainland and from barley grown, harvested and processed on Islay. Each variety and the year of harvest are online fully traceable.
This Bruichladdich 18 year old Islay single malt whisky itself is first matured in ex-bourbon casks and then finished in Sauternes and port casks. The three cask types are married together for nine months before the whisky is cold-filtered and bottled at 50% vol. without the addition of colouring agents.
The so-called ‘Bruichladdich Wrap’ is the first packaging of its kind in the whisky industry to be made from 100 per cent fully recyclable cellulose. The new, weight-optimised bottle design also helps to optimise sustainability and reduce the distillery's carbon footprint. It is no coincidence that Bruichladdich is one of the few B-Corp certified whisky producers in the world.
Whiskybase ID WB239274
Category Single Malt
Distillery Bruichladdich
Bottling serie Re/Define Eighteen
Vintage 2004
Bottled 14.11.2023
Stated Age 18 years old
Cask Type Bourbon, Sauternes, and Port
Strength 50.0 % Vol.

[@davidowen2834]

Hi Jason. No, no 18 Bruichladdich for me especially for the price I like the Islay barley offerings. Generally prices for 18 yr old malts are now going through the roof, luckily got enough in the stash that I purchased a few years ago while the prices were reasonable. A good honest review Jason. Slàinte 🥃

[@WhiskyJason1]

great to have a stash!!

[@justwhisky]

Totally agree with your review! Cheers 🥃

[@WhiskyJason1]

THANKS!!

[@jbar6284]

I love the farmy, dusty, grainy nature of Islay Barley; yet to try the Bere and Organic Barleys. Shane @WhiskyLock really likes the few/rare all ex-Bourbon Bruichladdich releases he's been able to find.

[@WhiskyJason1]

Shane @WhiskyLock is a really good guy!

[@Martin-uj7wj]

Well done for reviewing this in line with it's cost Jason. All the fancy casks and barley varieties mean nothing if the smell and taste are only average. They also produce a 10yo cask strength with 'local barley' for £110ish, ridiculous. I'm sure they're decent whiskies but there are far better options out there. Great review.

[@WhiskyJason1]

yep - much better bottles of whisky for less money

[@christinecamley]

I'm okay with the cost. I am a huge Bruichladdich fan! Interesting thoughts!! 🙂

[@WhiskyJason1]

Thanks - please enjoy your bottle!

[@christinecamley]

@@WhiskyJason1 Thanks Jason!!

[@lyacoubian]

Bruichladdich Bere Barley is their only bottling I have consistently enjoyed.

[@WhiskyJason1]

thanks Lorenz!

[@sierrastriker77]

Thanks for the honest review, I've seen this for $170.00 in southern California which is pretty reasonable for an 18yr single malt these days for us stateside! However, I'm gonna pass and stick to their peated stuff. I agree with you that there is something poorly integrated about a lot of their products which to my palate end up having a metallic and sharp, unpleasant farm note that just isn't to my liking, whether it's the Classic Ladie or Islay Barley. Seems like as cool as their mission and ethos are, still needs some refining! Cheers,

[@WhiskyJason1]

thanks for the agreement on the taste impressions

[@AlinJapan]

Wow, indeed! I have a preference for the Islay Barley series of Bruichladdich. Thanks Jason for your review -- I wonder what it is about the casks that don't help the whisky to mature and take on the characteristics that we expect from an 18 yo whisky.

[@WhiskyJason1]

probably just tired used casks

[@jackthepickledhound]

Ouch! That's some tough love! There was a Rock farms that was , bourbon matures and pretty good. I finally opened a Laddie and it does seem overly complicated casking. I couldn't pass this up at $175 considering the pedigree, other 18 year olds at similar prices and the cool packaging for the first of it's name. All the "meh" reviews be damned.

[@WhiskyJason1]

they are innovating!

[@Bowman1999]

I like Bruichladdich in general and I do like the 18yr but its too expensive.

[@WhiskyJason1]

yep - too expensive for "average" drinkers

[@shaddepadde]

We are at octomore 15 now. Not 14... :)

[@WhiskyJason1]

thanks!

[@proseforpoets]

Well, the price is certainly vicious!

[@WhiskyJason1]

true!

[@pillcozby431]

Much rather have the Port Charlotte 18. If it was cheaper than maybe. But there is way too much whisky out to spend that kind of money for me.

[@WhiskyJason1]

agree - thanks!

[@olivierbeltrami]

Didn’t know one could take the sheath off 😂

[@WhiskyJason1]

always learning something :-)

[@laurentsteck6086]

I agree, this is not something really impressive or special! Good but ok!

[@WhiskyJason1]

yep - ok!

[@TheReal_DeanD]

Woohoo! I'm so so happy I didn't buy this. These are $190 USD in my area. I dodged a bullet here.

[@WhiskyJason1]

I was not impressed with this