One
of the things I respect is transparency. I'm as transparent as possible with my
reviews. When a distillery matches that level of transparency, I'm impressed.
Good, bad, or ugly, there is something to be said about not holding anything
back.
Located
on the southwestern tip of Islay, the Bruichladdich Distillery
is one of only ten working distilleries in this Scottish region. It was opened
in 1881, but after several owners, it was shut down in 1994. Then, in 2000, it
was resurrected, and today, it creates three distinct brands: Bruichladdich, Port
Charlotte, and Octomore. The first is unpeated, the second
peated, and the third heavily peated.
Bruichladdich's
goal has long been to push the boundaries of terroir in artisanal single malt
whiskey. If you're unfamiliar with the term terroir, it basically means
making the most of the immediate local environment, including the climate,
soil, and landscape. Bruichladdich is big into experimentation.
One
such experiment is a deviation from Single Malt Scotch whisky to Single Grain
Scotch. Mind you, I’m not suggesting that Bruichladdich is giving up on malt;
the subject of today’s review is an experimental whisky destined only for the
USA market. It is called The
Laddie Rye.
Both
the rye and malted barley grains were grown locally and fully matured on Islay,
which isn’t exactly commonplace. Islay distilleries regularly source grains
from the mainland and age them in warehouses in other territories. Again,
terroir matters to Bruichladdich. And, since it is under the Bruichladdich
label, it means no peat is used in the malting process.
So,
here’s the thing: Single Grain Scotch is viewed by some as the ugly red-headed
stepsister to Single Malt Scotch, and will completely ignore the category. If
you’re in this camp, you’re not doing yourself any favors. I’ve had several
outstanding Single Grains that will stand up to many Single Malts.
I
have had Rye-based Single Grain whiskies from India, Ireland, and Canada, but
never from Scotland. As such, this will be a completely new #DrinkCurious adventure!
Bruichladdich
has been kind enough to offer me this opportunity by providing me a sample of
The Laddie Rye in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest review. Are you
ready? Let’s go!
- Whiskey Type: Single Grain Scotch
- Region: Islay
- Distiller: Bruichladdich
- Age: 7 years
- Mashbill: 55% Islay-grown rye and 45% Islay-grown malted barley
- Cooperage: First-fill Bourbon barrels and virgin, toasted American oak casks
- Alcohol Content: 50% ABV (100°)
- Price per 750mL: $59.99 – USA exclusive market
- Non-chill filtered, naturally colored
Appearance: I used a
Glencairn glass to explore this whisky neat. The liquid presented as bright gold
and produced a medium rim with medium-width, tightly packed, slow tears.
Nose: I left
the glass alone for about ten minutes before approaching the Scotch further. The
aroma had a maritime quality, with notes of ocean air and seaweed. Behind that,
I smelled apples, pears, pineapples, and malt. The air in my mouth tasted of a
combination of citrus peels.
Palate: The Laddie Rye possessed a soft, oily
texture. The palate shock was fruity and sweet. The front of my palate
encountered pears, caramel, and lemon zest. Midway through, I found vanilla, malt,
and rye spice. The back featured candied ginger, oak, and pink grapefruit.
Finish: Lemon
and grapefruit competed for my attention while candied ginger, malt, and rye
spice frolicked on my tongue and in my throat. It was very even-keeled, with the
only change occurring when it faded away. The finish was drying and lasted
1:52, resulting in a longer duration.
Bottle, Bar, or Bust: If you’re
a fan of American Ryes, you may find The Laddie Rye confusing. It has some
familiar qualities, but this is more of an unpeated Scotch than not, likely due
to the high malt content.
Saying that, I found The
Laddie Rye to be a lovely, flavorful pour; one with plenty of character and
depth. It drank right at its stated proof, with just a bit of warmth. The price
is more than fair.
I believe The Laddie Rye
may be the best Single Grain Scotch I’ve had in at least the last few years. It
really is that good, and obviously, it earns my Bottle rating. Cheers!
My Simple, Easy-to-Understand
Rating System
- Bottle = Buy It
- Bar = Try It
- Bust = Leave It
Whiskeyfellow encourages you to enjoy your whiskey as you see fit,
but begs you to do so responsibly.
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