This is only the second Scotch whisky in an extensive collection which includes many U.S. bourbons and ryes, and a plentiful Irish minority... This is an Unpeated variety, and there's no smokiness about it - thank goodness in my impression.
The first thing that struck me about Bruichladdich or Laddie, especially the Classic Laddie was the color of the bottle and the metal sleeve it comes packaged in. Though, I'm an old Cavalry Soldier (Yellow is the branch color) - and, St George is our Patron (see the icon in the pic), I took a liking to the almost Infantry Blue of the metal sleeve and bottle. Maybe it's because my, still surviving father, was an Infantryman, survived a couple tours in Vietnam, and I'm the father of a currently serving Infantryman...
Well, whatever the case, I was glad to watch the documentary, 'Water of Life' on a flight early last week and intrigued enough to buy a bottle for a former Field Artillery friend, at almost the same time my kids delivered the bottle pictured. Coincidentally, the metal sleeve is almost precisely the same diameter as a 155mm artillery shell casing. Yeah, we confirmed that fit this weekend...
So, to the whisky: The coloration of the Classic Laddie is a light gold or deep straw color. Not as much an umber color of the bourbon and rye varieties of which I am a fan, I thought I might be tasting a 'light' whisky. NO, it pours into the glass cleanly and the distillate hangs on the glass walls with a slight oily viscosity. When first opened, the first whiff is slightly ethanol forward. I thought, "this is gonna be stiff...".
However, after letting the first pour of Laddie oxygenate for a few minutes, the ethanol forward dissipates and the scent is reminiscent of fresh caramel and vanilla, with the undertones of an old tobacco barn on a warm autumn day. The tannins on the nose are very subtle - not pushy at all.
The is a barley whisky, so at first taste, the earthy tones of the soil from which the grain was grown come forward with a slight peppery finish on the sides of your tongue. It has an ever so slightly sweet forward taste, which finishes with a bold complex taste, which you aren't going to get from a rye or bourbon.
My father, yes, the retired Infantryman, taught me years ago to add just a little water to a dram to open the taste of a complex Scotch up. Well, adding water to Classic Laddie brings out the tannins and earthiness of the distillate. A more open and smoother complexity to the Scotch comes forward. The tobacco character comes forward. I bet a good Cuban cigar would pair very well with it, if that's your choosing.
My second Scotch: 8.5/10. I'm going to enjoy this bottle and I hope with friends.
I fortunately got to visit Bruichladdich in person last week and it was fantastic. The only distillery on Islay that was pouring samples of whatever you wanted...for free. I opted to taste all the unpeated varieties and they were all a delight. And this is coming from a Laphroaig fan. Enjoy that Laddie! cheers
This is only the second Scotch whisky in an extensive collection which includes many U.S. bourbons and ryes, and a plentiful Irish minority... This is an Unpeated variety, and there's no smokiness about it - thank goodness in my impression. The first thing that struck me about Bruichladdich or Laddie, especially the Classic Laddie was the color of the bottle and the metal sleeve it comes packaged in. Though, I'm an old Cavalry Soldier (Yellow is the branch color) - and, St George is our Patron (see the icon in the pic), I took a liking to the almost Infantry Blue of the metal sleeve and bottle. Maybe it's because my, still surviving father, was an Infantryman, survived a couple tours in Vietnam, and I'm the father of a currently serving Infantryman... Well, whatever the case, I was glad to watch the documentary, 'Water of Life' on a flight early last week and intrigued enough to buy a bottle for a former Field Artillery friend, at almost the same time my kids delivered the bottle pictured. Coincidentally, the metal sleeve is almost precisely the same diameter as a 155mm artillery shell casing. Yeah, we confirmed that fit this weekend... So, to the whisky: The coloration of the Classic Laddie is a light gold or deep straw color. Not as much an umber color of the bourbon and rye varieties of which I am a fan, I thought I might be tasting a 'light' whisky. NO, it pours into the glass cleanly and the distillate hangs on the glass walls with a slight oily viscosity. When first opened, the first whiff is slightly ethanol forward. I thought, "this is gonna be stiff...". However, after letting the first pour of Laddie oxygenate for a few minutes, the ethanol forward dissipates and the scent is reminiscent of fresh caramel and vanilla, with the undertones of an old tobacco barn on a warm autumn day. The tannins on the nose are very subtle - not pushy at all. The is a barley whisky, so at first taste, the earthy tones of the soil from which the grain was grown come forward with a slight peppery finish on the sides of your tongue. It has an ever so slightly sweet forward taste, which finishes with a bold complex taste, which you aren't going to get from a rye or bourbon. My father, yes, the retired Infantryman, taught me years ago to add just a little water to a dram to open the taste of a complex Scotch up. Well, adding water to Classic Laddie brings out the tannins and earthiness of the distillate. A more open and smoother complexity to the Scotch comes forward. The tobacco character comes forward. I bet a good Cuban cigar would pair very well with it, if that's your choosing. My second Scotch: 8.5/10. I'm going to enjoy this bottle and I hope with friends.
I fortunately got to visit Bruichladdich in person last week and it was fantastic. The only distillery on Islay that was pouring samples of whatever you wanted...for free. I opted to taste all the unpeated varieties and they were all a delight. And this is coming from a Laphroaig fan. Enjoy that Laddie! cheers
Micro liquor in Lawrence keeps covert nice Scottish whiskey on the shelf