Bruichladdich, 9 years old (& 354 days!)
Bruichladdich, 9 years old (& 354 days!)
The second release from Dramfool is Bruichladdich matured in a fresh first-fill sherry hogshead. The whisky was bottled at 9 years old, just 10 days short of being 10 years old. The ten (years) minus ten (days) dram.
The cask was filled on 1st June 2006 and bottled on 20th May 2016. The whisky was bottled un-chill filtered and at cask strength of 58.2%, and 187 bottles have been released.
Tasting Notes:
Nose neat: Sunday afternoon in a Port Charlotte cottage. The distant whisper of diesel puffer fumes is in the air, but is soon overpowered as another cheeky snifter of sherry is poured and swilled around in the glass. In the corner is a cherished armchair – rich, deep mahogany and lustrous maroon leather. Step into the kitchen, and a cake is being prepared. The air is thick with the fruity notes of raisins, molasses, bananas, mocha, Demerara sugar and coffee-flavoured icing.
Taste neat: Someone’s in full-on cake-making mode in the kitchen. A coffee and walnut cake is smothered in thick, creamy icing and is ready to serve, but there’s also a rich fruit cake in the making. Into the mixing bowl go the raisins, some muscovado sugar and a wee splash of sherry for good measure. Meanwhile, on the hob, a pan of dark treacle toffee is bubbling away, and there’s a slight pang of anise or liquorice coming from somewhere, hinting at some treat for later that’s been squirrelled away from hungry eyes. It’s not all running like clockwork, though. A piece of tupperware has been left a little too close to the hob and there’s a faint tang of burnt plastic still hanging in the air in wisps.
Nose diluted: You poke your head round the door of a spare room used for storage – dark-wood furniture is piled up everywhere, and someone’s been busy with the furniture polish, but there’s still plenty of work to do, because there’s a mustiness about the place too, as well as the merest hint of rubber. Back in the living room, a rich fruit cake – packed with raisins – is served. Will you wash it down with a rich, heavy sherry or a coffee liqueur? Both are on offer.
Taste diluted: : Somebody’s opened a window to air the house and a fresh breeze has swiftly seen off the dirty elements, but the sweet, rich aromas of sherry, figs and dark sugar remain. Someone offers you a butterscotch sweet, while in the next room, has someone opened a bottle of root beer?