Bruichladdich XVII 17 Year Old

Nose: Beautiful, fresh and clean yet remarkably fragrant and evocative, a coastal breeze. Sweet and fruity with the usual Bruichladdich mix of melon and pear/ green apple against light honey and toasty oak. There is real subtlety here and as the glass sits the aromas build with interesting notes of nutty white chocolate and maybe even a hint of banana revealing themselves.

Feel: Slightly firm but quite rich and mouth coating.

Taste: Soft fruit and sweet barley. The fruits from the nose blend with a touch of vanilla and white chocolate yet there is always a sense of crisp freshness to the palette. The oak begins to dry slightly alongside a touch of salt.

Finish: Crisp and bittersweet with the faintest touch of spice, fabulous balance.

While I have enjoyed many an “ACEd” Bruichladdich over the last few years I do hope that the future will bring more full term bourbon cask matured examples. This bottling is quite difficult to get hold of nowadays but it is a great example of how well Bruichladdich and a bourbon cask work together, the balance between the fruit and the fresh coastal elements being struck beautifully.

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