Country: Scotland – Islay Distillery: Bruichladdich Type: Single Malt
Age: NAS
Cask: American Oak
ABV: 50.0%
Proof: 100
Price: $50
Nose: Citrus, vanilla, apple and pear.
Palate: Barley sweetness. Creamy and round. Tropical fruits and vanilla are strong. There are some grassy notes coming at the end.
Finish: Medium long with white spices and minerals drying the palate
It was an early Amsterdam morning as I got into a whisky store and started talking with the owner. We were talking about Islay whiskies and he brought out The Classic Laddie which he just received the day before.
Distilled by the Master Jim McEwan to show that Islay whiskies can be incredibly competitive without peat. McEwan showed his craziness level to attain a traditional margin this time as all the barley used for this whisky is from Scotland.
I also loved the 50% abv which doesn't overpower also brings out a nice creamy texture.
Every year when I taste The Classic Laddie, I always feel a more positive vibe from it. This feeling is not only coming from the perfection of the whisky, but also because of the transparency act of Bruichladdich.
You can check the recipe for each batch of The Classic Laddie from their website. You can see which barrels and how many barrels they are using for each batch and the ingredients they use for each whisky.
Even if you are a peat freak, I would say give it the chance. Swirl it and drink it.
