2015 Bruichladdich 10 Year Old "Micro-Provenance" K&L Exclusive Single Ex-Pineau De Charentes Barrel #3122 Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

There's something meaningful and gratifying about bottling an OB Bruichladdich once again. If you're not aware, K&L was Bruichladdich's ride-or-die customer number one. Even before I started here, we were one of the first stores to EVER bottle a Bruichladdich from the new regime. The old distillery was bought by a consortium led by wine and spirits industry veteran Mark Reynier and Bowmore Master Distiller Jim McEwan. Almost exactly 20 years ago, their "First Born" single casks were sold at K&L at the fresh young age of 6 years old (thank you, Susan!!!!). Some of the first spirit produced after the refurbishment was done. When I took over several years later, our first mission was to go to Islay and explore the Bruichladdich warehouses. There we found many of our first "Faultline" barrels, but also the infamous Quarts de Chaume Micro-Provenance barrel. That's a story I won't dive into today, but our time with Jim at Bruichladdich was completely formative, and I still consider him a dear friend, although it's been many years since I've seen him. And while that phase in our relationship with Bruichladdich ended with the sale of the distillery and its old stocks to Rémy Cointreau, our love for the spirit distilled there has not subsided in the slightest. The new team, led by the wonderful Adam Hannett, continue to push the envelope and bring new and exciting things to market from that beautiful Tiffany-blue beacon on the bay. Now, in a surprising twist, where once we were told "never again," we're now told "please and thank you!" A beautiful barrel of Bruichladdich aged full-term in a cask that held the great white ratafia of the Charentes. The vin muté category is severely underappreciated in the States, but it turns out that if you take fresh grape juice pressed from the high-acid grapes grown on the wonderful chalky soils of Cognac, arrest its fermentation with freshly distilled Cognac and age that in old Cognac barrels for many decades, you create one of the most complex and delicious dessert wines available. The closest analogue is the wonderful botrytized white wine from due south of the Charentes, Sauternes, but of course at a fraction of the price. Now imagine taking that old wood, simply brimming with sweet, oxidized glory, and filling it with the fabulous, full-bodied Bruichladdich spirit. It's truly a match made in heaven. I honestly hate to trivialize this spectacular whisky with tasting notes because its existence is so poignant and meaningful to both me and the history of the store, but I will try to do it justice here. The color doesn't fall nicely into the classic "Whisky Magazine" color descriptors I usually use, as there's an almost pinkish-red character to it, but the closest is russet/tawny (1.3/1.4). The nose is impeccable and cleaner than expected for such a unique cask type, with a huge, almost buttery confectionery note followed by lemon curd, candied almonds, Shine Muscat, salted pretzel, nougat, peach tea, mossy rocks, wet gravel, pancake syrup and wildflower honey. On the palate, there's big sweetness at first, with the darker, craggy notes quickly balancing the richness of the wine: barley syrup, shiso leaf, lemon balm, peppermint oil, camphor, mace and pink peppercorn. It's viscous and long. With water, the old-school retro malt character comes forward, as do the sweet lemon oils. It's lovely, classical, eminently drinkable and stupendously delicious. It's not as sweet and juicy as some Sauternes casks, nor as spicy and tense as some Cognac barrels. A totally unique yet somehow totally classical Bruichladdich that we're proud to be selling exclusively at K&L.