I’ve recently concluded that I am to independent whisky bottling what Inspector Clouseau is to crime scene investigation. Here I am with two bottlings that were supposed to be part of this year’s Christmas releases, and they’re here *before* what were supposed to be this year’s Autumn releases.

This feels very much like the single malt equivalent of the interrogation scene from The Pink Panther Strikes Again. You’ll get your bottles eventually, but a grand piano may be destroyed in the process.

Anyway, the good news is that I have two crackers for you here, and there’ll be some more of the good stuff along in just a few weeks. Not now, Cato.

First up we have a 22-year-old Bruichladdich. This must be from one of the very lightly peated (5ppm, I believe) batches made in the first few years after the distillery reopened in 2001.

The nose is super-clean and fresh, with green melon, candied peel, a thin slice of banana, and a slate-y sort of minerality. I also get baled hay and touches of coal tar in the background.

As usual with Bruichladdich this swims well, and with water I get green grapes, croissant, caramel and a really fantastic sort of herbal smokiness with bay and basil.

On the palate it’s fat, oily and citrussy. A big wave of mandarin at first, with a little spritz of passionfruit juice, then touches of almost liquorice-y tar before a really maritime development. Big briney oysters with lemon in fact! The finish is long and a bit waxy, with lots of sea water, citrus and something elusively phenolic.

After trying this I’m starting to wish Bruichladdich continued in this style. You don’t really feel the peat, but the coastal side of the distillate is really amplified, and that works beautifully with all the fabulous citrus. It’s a really gorgeous and elegant dram, and quintessentially Islay.

This first-fill barrel produced only 181 bottles at 56.7%, and they are available for £165 each. Only one per person please, due to the low outturn.

Next up, keeping things coastal, is a 15-year-old Ledaig. Always a delight to return to this distillate!

The nose on this one starts off a bit richer than you might expect, with smoked cocoa and pecans, and some savoury notes of soy and the paper wrapping from a fish supper (oily, salty, a drop of malt vinegar). As it breathes more lemon and tar emerge, along with some old fishing nets, and a faint whiff of iodine. Fun!

On the palate – an almost opulent peat smoke: fat, peppery and almost creamy. Sweet lemon syrup, brine, tar, green olives and herbal pastilles. Everything you need, really.

With water – crystalline, with perfect lemons, touches of peach and almond, seawater and smoke. Clean as a whistle, clear as a bell.

This bourbon barrel produced only 221 bottles at 54.5%, and they are available for £75 each.

Coming Next

As I mentioned in my earlier ramblings, the belated Autumn releases will be here towards the end of the month – a fully-oloroso-matured 14yo Auchroisk for £69.50, a lush 15yo Linkwood for £77.50 and a Highland 21yo (secretly a rare acquisition of heavily-peated Jura!) for £125.

If you think you might like to grab any of those alongside a Laddie or Ledaig I’d be happy to consolidate shipping. Just choose the Collection option for your first order to avoid paying twice for delivery, and please drop me an email to confirm your intentions.

And…

…that’s it for now! I hope you enjoy these two, and I’ll be back with you before too long. As usual please do feel free to get in touch via any of the usual channels if I can be of any assistance.

Cheers!

David