Bruichladdich Links - The Old Course St. Andrews 17th Hole

This is my first Bruichladdich expression to taste, so I am not sure what the typical distillery profile is. I can infer its characteristics, as it is an Islay, but that is all. With this in mind, here goes:

The malt is a light "sunshine" color. The high-level rim of the whisky after swirling beads up, indicating it is a higher ABV whisky (46% in this case).

Nose: Golden honey sunshine in the sea air! This is more akin to Bunnahabhain than Lagavulin or Laphroaig. Not a lot of smoke nor peat (is there any?) The sherry influence is obvious. This is a mouth-watering whisky! I can hardly wait to take my first sip, but I want to nose it again after letting it sit for a minute. I'm not getting anything medicinal nor herbal, nothing malty or caramel. I am just getting ripe fruit (kiwi?), sea air, some honey notes, and peppery spice. I am really enjoying this!

Body: medium body, smooth, inviting!

Palate: Spice; is that a hint of peat in there? It warms the mouth, with a smooth, delicious flavor. Citrus rind, a bit of roasted honey on a biscuit? The tongue tingles (did I say 46% ABV?) as it is coated with a marmalade sort of flavor. That's not dried fruits, but it is...nutty! That's what it is. Like a roasted peanut. The whisky is slightly sweet on the tongue, sending off spicy notes and tingling the mouth. Very lively. Very active. This is a whisky to hold in a while, and really enjoy it!

Finish: Wow! That is one fantastic whisky! Lots of spice, subtle fruity notes, with a bit of citrus fruit. I'm not normally a citrus fan, but this is a good mix. There is that slight earthy note at the back. That must be what subtle peat tastes like! It came out slow at the end, not overpowering. I lick the inside of my mouth, but this time because I want to re-capture the flavor I was just experiencing!

This was a fantastic introduction to the Bruichladdich distillery. I am now very curious about the rest of the range. As extensive as it is, I am still a bit intimidated by the brand.

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