Distilled in 2013, this single vintage expression has undergone a decade of maturation. The ageing process involves a carefully chosen combination of casks: 80% of the whisky is matured in first-fill bourbon barrels, while the remaining 20% ages in second-fill Pauillac wine casks. This maturation strategy enhances the whisky's complexity and depth, offering a harmonious blend of the bourbon barrel's vanilla and oak notes with the rich, fruity nuances imparted by the Pauillac wine casks.
Tasting Note by Bruichladdich:
Nose: Aromas of warm citrus, tropical fruit, and sweet malty flour are immediate on the nose. As the whisky opens the sweetness of the fruit, oak and malted Bere barley combine to give an uplifting, sunny feel to the dram, enhanced with fragrant peach skin, fresh vanilla pods, candied orange and creamy fudge. Over time, delicate floral notes of rose and subtle sweet violet appear.
Palate: On the palate, the presence of the malted grain is unmistakable with notes of popcorn, brown sugar and warm porridge. The Bere barley provides a soft, rounded mouthfeel, beautifully complementing the sweet, stoned fruit notes. Apricot, peach, melon and candied orange are balanced with the gentle influence of the oak, which adds a hint of vanilla, coconut and marzipan.
Finish: Milk chocolate, malted grain and crème brulee add to the soft finish, while a hint of mango and orange blossom honey linger.