Bruichladdich has launched its Luxury Redefined with 30-Year-Old and 18-Year-Old single malt whiskies, the first high age-statement expressions from the Islay-based brand.
Bruichladdich Distillery has unveiled its Luxury Redefined range, featuring 30-Year-Old and 18-Year-Old single malt whiskies. The two new Scotches are the Islay distillery’s first high age-statement expressions.
The Bruichladdich Thirty matured solely in rare, handpicked ex-Bourbon casks. Bottled at 43%, The Bruichladdich Thirty captured “a pivotal moment in time for the distillery,” said Adam Hannett, Bruichladdich’s head distiller. Adding, “This 30 year old single malt not only celebrates the resurrection of our Victorian distillery but pays homage to the men who laid down this spirit three decades ago. The future of Bruichladdich was uncertain in the early 1990s. From the brink of permanent closure to now the largest private employer on Islay, Bruichladdich Distillery and the local community has slowly rebuilt and flourished over the past three decades – all while this spirit has quietly matured.”
On the nose, Bruichladdich’s signature maritime character is joined by notes of coconut, wild gorse flowers, Brazil nuts and a hint of vanilla as well as subtle floral notes of geranium and rose, pear drops, candied lemons, soft spices and a whisper of cinnamon. The palate finds the delicate sweetness of toasted oak coming to the fore, followed by light fruits, honey, fudge and a hint of leather. The gentle floral profile opens with time, revealing more flavors, including the delicate salty tang of fresh Islay sea air. The finish features a vibrant tang of sea salt balanced with warm oak, soft vanilla, and sweet coconut.
The Bruichladdich Eighteen aged primarily in ex-Bourbon casks and a small number of wine casks. Full bodied and beautifully fragrant, it features notes of honey, butterscotch, and orange on the nose, with a medley of tropical fruits and toasted mellow oak lingering on the palate.
“This is an ultra-high provenance single malt,” noted Hannett. “ Every single element of The Bruichladdich Eighteen – from the specific harvest and barely varietals used to the exact casks it has matured in – is fully traceable. Which, for a whisky of this age, is quite incredible. 18 years ago, we distilled spirit from our first ever crop of home-grown Islay barley and our passion to diversify and champion our cereal growing programme has never wavered. It’s about making delicious whisky with real provenance which also benefits our community – and The Bruichladdich Eighteen is the embodiment of this ethos.”
Both whiskies come in eco-friendly outer-packaging made by luxury packaging specialist James Cropper. Lightweight, plastic-free, and produced using 100% green energy, the bottles contain an average of 60% recycled glass.
“These high age-statement bottlings are a marker in time for Bruichladdich,” commented Gareth Brown, global marketing director of Bruichladdich. “Beyond incredible liquid alone, they signify how far we have come since our distillery was reopened in 2001.
“Our founders set out to create the most thought provoking spirits with provenance and authenticity at their heart – and The Bruichladdich Eighteen and The Bruichladdich Thirty are this vision realised.
“When it came to launching these prestige whiskies, we set out to prove that sustainable packaging can be simultaneously stripped back and beautiful, and I believe we have achieved this with our Luxury Redefined range.
“Rather than adding elaborate packaging or unnecessary weight we have chosen to subtract, letting form follow function to rethink what modern luxury can – and should – be. Everything – from the weight and functional design of the glass bottle to the recyclable materials, custom colour, and texture of the outer wrap – has been carefully considered to ensure that our new single malt expressions exude contemporary luxury, while staying true to our values.”
The Bruichladdich Luxury Redefined 30-Year-Old is priced at £1,500 ($1,900 USD), while the 18-Year-Old costs £150 ($200 USD). For more information or to purchase the whiskies, head over to the brand’s official website.
Last year, Bruichladdich launched the first rye whisky from Islay.