2011 Bruichladdich 11 Year Old “Dramfool’s Jim McEwan Signature Collection 5.1” First Fill Bourbon Cask #2477 Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) (Pre-Arrival) $324.99 View

According to the distillery: “Distilled on 11th July 2011 this whisky spent its whole 11-year life maturing in cask #2477. This maturation took place in a 1st fill bourbon cask from an unknown American Distillery. Bottled in July 2022 as Release 5.1 of the Jim McEwan Signature Collection, like all bottlings within the collection, it was bottled un-chill filtered, with no added colour, and at natural cask strength of 59.0% (as we always say, Jim would have it no other way!), it yielded only 238 bottles.”

2002 Bruichladdich 20 Year Old “Dramfool” Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) (Pre-Arrival) $349.99 View

Jim McEwan

 Cask Type – First Fill Bourbon Barrel – ABV 59.0%. Colour – Harvest Gold. Body – Smooth Mellow and in prime condition. Aromas – Classic Islay without the smoke which allows the barley/oak notes to shine and highlights that brilliant Atlantic freshness. Hints of ripe Guava & melon work in harmony with the crispness of the malt & the oak which brings that mellow soft sweetness. It’s an irresistible combination, almost like an Atlantic rainbow of aromatics in harmony with the Island & its unique location. Taste – Wow!! Its so clean and flavourful. The texture is amazing giving the taste buds a spiritual experience like no other. The sweetness of the malt sugars is held beautifully in a cradle of spicy oak from the Bourbon cask. The fruitiness is down to slow distillation and long fermentation, and the fresh vibrant mouthfeel due to its maturing on the Atlantic Coast. The main prize here goes to the Distillery team who truly understand the art of distillation.. 

K&L Notes

According to the distillery: “The 55th Dramfool release (perhaps) crowns a year of remarkable bottlings, but who knows what December might hold! We are proud to be bottling our 20 year old Bruichladdich distilled in 2002, just one year after the re-opening of the distillery we all have come to love so much. Following on from our sister 20 year old Port Charlotte’s earlier this year what more can we say but we are delighted to share these all with you. Fully matured in 1st fill bourbon barrel, it has worked some magic over the decades. Thanks to Bruichladdich’s policy of filling casks at a higher than industry norm of 63.5% it has still retained a high strength of 59.0%! A powerhouse whisky from the, then, newly reinstated team of Bruichladdich Filled on 26/08/2002 and bottled on 11/10/2022 at 20 years old.”

2004 Port Charlotte 18 Year Old “Dramfool” Bourbon Cask Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) (Pre-Arrival) $359.99 View

Jim McEwan

 Colour – Harvest Gold Body- Mellow & Mature Aromas – Beautiful oak, peat & hints of Atlantic swells leading onto Coastal Flora & Fauna. It has a true Hebridean DNA that works beautifully with the spice from the Bourbon that first filled the cask. Little hints of Jupiter & Pine drift by on a classic Islay marine overture all held in the warmth of a peat fire. Palate – The texture of the spirit is beautiful, viscous, mellow and brimming with all that makes Islay malts so unique. Flavours of melon & pear emerge held beautifully by the oak & peat smoke, the crisp sweetness of the malt works well with the oak which delivers a beautiful spicy drift as the oak expands releasing gentle hints of bourbon spices. This spirit is at its very best. The finish is long and mellow, a true son of Islay!! 

K&L Notes

The official bottlings of Port Charlotte top out with a 10 year age statement, but there are indeed casks from the early days of Bruichladdich’s modern renaissance which occasionally make their way to market. The sister cask to Dramfool’s 18 Year old Sherry aged Port Charlotte this cask was filled into first fill Bourbon on 10/27/2004 and bottled 11/3/22 after coming of age. Like so much of the IB market in Scotland, it’s all about who you know – Dramfool is plugged in with the best of ’em and able to score this privately owned cask. As this was a private cask, a few bottles went to the original owners, but the remainder that went up for sale totaled just 207 bottles. Bottled at a cask strength of 52.7% ABV without color or chill filtration.

2009 Port Charlotte 12 Year Old “Dramfool’s Jim McEwan Signature Collection 5.2” First Fill Bourbon Cask #1440 Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) (Pre-Arrival) $374.99 View

According to the distillery: “Distilled on 28th April 2009 this whisky spent its whole 13-year life maturing in cask #1440. This maturation took place in a 1st fill bourbon cask from the Clear Springs Distillery. Home of iconic bourbons owned by the famous Buffalo Trace their bourbon number many including Black Ridge, Stone Hammer, Two Stars and Wolcott Kentucky Straight. We have no indication of the bourbon this previously held but the Buffalo Trace cask policy is one that never wavers from quality! Bottled in July 2022 as Release 5.2 of the Jim McEwan Signature Collection, like all bottlings within the collection, it was bottled un-chill filtered, with no added colour, and at natural cask strength of 62.9% (as we always say, Jim would have it no other way!), it yielded only 197 bottles.”

2011 Octomore (Bruichladdich) 10 Year Old “Dramfool’s Jim McEwan Signature Collection 5.3” First Fill Bourbon Cask #4556 Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) (Pre-Arrival) $429.99 View

According to the distillery: “Distilled on 21st December 2011 this whisky spent its whole 10-year life maturing in cask #4556. This maturation took place in a 1st fill bourbon cask from an unknown American Distillery. Peated to a whopping 150.2PPM it is another ‘velvet fist in an iron glove’ which surely packs a punch. Bottled in July 2022 as Release 5.3 of the Jim McEwan Signature Collection, like all bottlings within the collection, it was bottled un-chill filtered, with no added colour, and at natural cask strength of 61.0% (as we always say, Jim would have it no other way!), it yielded only 202 bottles.”

Port Charlotte 18 Year Old “Dramfool” Sherry Cask Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) (Pre-Arrival) $429.99 View

According to the distillery: “We can’t quite believe we can say this, but for the third time this year we are excited to release sister casks, and the second time from Port Charlotte. The reception our 20 year old sisters had earlier in the year was superb, and we are sure these 18 year old sisters will get similar reviews. Dramfool release #60 is a Port Charlotte distilled on 27th October 2004 and filled into cask #RO8-258-23, it lay undisturbed in a first fill oloroso hogshead until being bottled 3rd November 2022. Originally purchased by private cask buyers direct from the distillery we were privileged to be chosen to bottle it after their ownership was complete, being sure some bottles made it to the sons they had been bought with in mind! As always this spirit has been treated with the greatest respect and bottled at natural cask strength of 57.7% without added colour or chill filtration giving the truest representation of this rare whisky we can. This is surely the darkest bottling we have ever released – let us reiterate ALL natural colour! – and proves what a dream peat and sherry can be! With only 227 bottles it might last longer than her sister but we doubt much longer!!”

2010 Octomore (Bruichladdich) 12 Year Old “Dramfool’s Jim McEwan Journey’s End 3” First Fill Bourbon Barrel Cask#4525 Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) (Pre-Arrival) $499.99 View

Just 222 bottles of this stunning Scotch were ever made! A rare blend that spent its entire life aging in a single cask, this is a stellar rare release from Octomore. According to the distillery, “Distilled on 12th June 2010 this whisky spent its whole 12-year life maturing in cask #4525. This maturation took place in a 1st fill bourbon cask from an unknown American Distillery. Peated to a more delicate – than some Octomore but still outrageous to many others – 96.9PPM it is classic of this rare spirit. Bottled in July 2022 as the final Journey’s End release, like all bottlings within the collection, it was bottled un-chill filtered, with no added colour, and at natural cask strength of 58.6% (as we always say, Jim would have it no other way!)”

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