Hello Fellow Scotch Lovers –

I have some very exciting news to share with you.

By this time next week ForScotchLovers will have a totally new look, a vastly improved user experience…and a new name: ForWhiskeyLovers

Over the past 4 years it has become evident to me that amazing single malt whiskies can come from anywhere in the world. What’s more, I have experienced phenomenal bourbons, ryes and even a few delightful grain whiskies.

So after numerous conversations with Managing Editor Ian Buxton, Director of Fulfillment Randy Caravella and numerous community members and industry thought leaders, the decision was made to “broaden the tent” and change the name to ForWhiskeyLovers.

To help ease the transition, ForWhiskeyLovers will initially be launched on the ForScotchLovers.com URL. Then, after a month or two, we’ll flip the switch and move everything over to the ForWhiskeyLovers.com web address. Quite a huge undertaking…but we are all extremely excited about it.

All this excitement (and yes, stress) around the offices has caused our boy Nicky “The Neck” to become a bit disoriented…which believe me is very scary. So to help The Neck maintain focus, we sent him on a mission: Find a whisky that is exciting, new…and impossible to find anywhere.

As always The Neck scored…HUGE…which brings me to this weeks Whiskey Wednesday special: Bruichladdich Islay Barley 2004 – Kentraw Farm Foreland

For the first time in almost a century Bruichladdich has produced a whisky from barley that comes comes from one farm, and one farm only; This chalice barley was grown by farmer Raymond Stewart on Kentraw Farm one mile from the distillery, and was harvested in September and distilled in December 2004. An Islay whisky made from Islay barley and spring water, and where the entire production process takes place on one island. The whiskey was matured and bottled on a south-east facing, pebbly/sandy slope above Lochindaal, looking out over the Atlantic and to Ireland.

This is the first Islay-grown barley to be distilled in recent times, and is the inaugural bottling of Bruichladdich’s Islay barley series, a unique and fascinating exploration of the influence of terroir on artisanal single malt whisky.

This is also a limited production whisky, with only 6,000 bottles released worldwide. But once again, thanks to Nicky The Neck, we’ve been able to secure more than our fair share…good luck finding this anywhere else in the US…and so I am thrilled to be able to offer you Bruichladdich Islay Barley 2004 – Kentraw Farm Foreland for the amazing price of $98.50/ bottle.

If you want a bottle or three, I urge you to act quickly, because as always…once its gone…its gone.

Until next Wednesday…with a new look…new name…and new ‘tude.

Doug Stone
Founder
www.ForScotchLovers.com

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BRUICHLADDICH ISLAY BARLEY 2004 – KENTRAW FARM FORELAND

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DISTILLERY TASTING NOTES: BRUICHLADDICH ISLAY BARLEY 2004

This long lost spirit of Islay has an unbelievable innocence. a purity and refinement that leaps onto the senses like a child at the start of a new day. Totally unafraid, full of warmth and excitement, with not a care in the world other than to please.

COLOUR: Translucent Lemon / Winter Sunshine.

NOSE: The nose is a study in directness and purity. First, lemon juice sprinkled over sweet, crushed barley, golden syrup. Then tropical fruits – grapefruit, pineapple, mango, guava – even sherbet powder. The olfactory senses are in ecstasy! So many fresh, fruity, zesty, sweet notes – a rare experience – as the fabulous combination of vanilla-rich oak and a crispy, sweet malt joins in the excitement. This rainbow of aromas continues with air: honeysuckle drifts by, as do hints of brine, and finally the oak rises to embrace the more delicate scents, adding maturity and calm.

PALATE: The first thing you notice is the amazing creaminess, the silkiness of a much older spirit. It glides over the palate – warm, sweet and fruity – almost like jelly beans. then, this oak-fire heat spreads evenly over the taste buds. It’s a truly lovely experience and ably forms the foundation for the aromatics to evolve as one. Now, you can really taste the light, vanilla notes from the toasted staves. The multi-layering of flavours is absolutely wonderful for such a young malt.

FINISH: Like most youngsters at this age, it doesn’t linger too long…but you will enjoy the innocence, the purity and the sheer zest for life.