Bruichladdich 14 Year Old Links 'The Old Course, St Andrews - 17th Hole'

Bruichladdich has released quite a few expressions under the ‘Links’ banner, referring to the many golf links on the island. This was the first version, a 14 Year Old released in 2003. Today a full bottle will easily set you back around 300 EUR, while it was originally around 70 EUR. It matured on Spanish oak.

Ha! Wonderfully creamy and expressive nose on all kinds of yellow fruit – call it tropical – with Laddie’s typical salty edge. Nice combination of apples, peach, passion fruit and star fruit. I quite like this. Turns into a marmalade. Some eucalyptus and a trace of smoke. All very fine!

I could have done with a bit more body, but the palate is treated to spices and fruity nonetheless. Again a tropical fruit salad with some pepper, peat and liquorice. The smokiness grows. Unfortunately it cannot fulfil the promise of the nose, even though it tries its very best.

I had expected the finish to be somewhat longer, but no. Spicy until the very end, though.

This is the better work by Bruichladdich. Unfortunately hard to find now and, as stated, the price has become quite steep.

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