Bruichladdich Luxury 18
Bruichladdich Luxury 18 is a cornerstone bottle from the Bruichladdich distillery on Islay. Situated on Scotland’s most famous whisky island, it is one of the unpeated releases from this storied distillery.
Matured in ex-bourbon and wine casks, it represents an inspired single malt from a distillery that produces three whisky brands: Bruichladdich, Octomore and Port Charlotte. Octomore and Port Charlotte are heavily peated whiskies, while Bruichladdich is always unpeated.
What makes Bruichladdich Luxury 18 so special?
Bruichladdich 18 has been released under the Luxury Re/defined label. This is an attempt by the team behind the distillery to reinvent how their whisky is made and a return to fully traceable ingredients.
The majority of Bruichladdich 18 is matured in ex-bourbon casks before being vatted and married in both sauternes and port casks for nine months. This additional casking brings a wonderful dash of French and Portuguese flavours to the wholly Scottish whisky, adding layers of dark fruit, herbal port notes and concentrated notes of molasses and burnt sugar.
What does the sauternes cask bring to Bruichladdich 18?
Sauternes is a fantastically rich and sweet dessert wine from France. It delivers waves of lemon, honey, herbs, ginger, caramel and butterscotch to the single malt whisky. It’s a very thick, syrupy wine, and this texture transfers well to Bruichladdich 18. The longer it matures, the stronger the caramel, chocolate and dried fruits become.
What does the port cask bring to Bruichladdich 18?
Port is a fortified wine from Portugal. It adds a sweet, darkly rich flavour profile to the whisky, layering fruit and molasses over the malty whisky. Spice and oak transfer from the cask too, bringing an intense mouthfeel to the single malt finish.
What are the tasting notes of Bruichladdich Luxury 18?
Aroma:
On the nose, Bruichladdich 18 is heavy with summer fruits and honey. It’s a fragrant whisky that benefits from being peat-free. The herbal elements underpin the aroma, allowing it to blend into a medley of peach, apricot and lemon notes.
Taste:
On the palate, you can expect Bruichladdich 18 to build towards a deeply flavoured whisky that celebrates the cereal and malty notes while wrapping them in honey, butterscotch and vanilla.
Finish:
Bruichladdich 18 has a long finish that has a distinct minerality and herbal character that marries well with the peach and apricot at its heart.
Texture and colour:
Bruichladdich 18 is bronze in colour and has a viscous, syrupy texture that coats the throat and mouth.
Suggested food pairings for Bruichladdich Luxury 18
Due to its wine-cask finish, Bruichladdich18 is a great whisky to pair with blue and hard, salty cheese. It’s great with serrano ham and black olives, as well as matching with classic chocolate or ice cream desserts.
Similar bottles to Bruichladdich Luxury 18
If you enjoy Bruichladdich 18, then you will enjoy Glenrothes 18 too. This 43% single malt from Speyside is entirely sherry-matured and is as decadent and enjoyable as the Bruichladdich.
Another 18-year-old to try, if you like Bruichladdich 18, is Glenmorangie 18. This 46% single malt is a classic Glenmorangie pour that captures the Highland DNA perfectly.
Bruichladdich Luxury 18 FAQs
Q: What is the ABV of Bruichladdich Luxury 18?
Bruichladdich Luxury 18 is bottled at 50% (100 proof). It’s a viscous, syrupy whisky that carries its higher alcohol by volume very well. It’s an elegant and easy-drinking single malt with intense flavours.
Q: What kind of barley is used to make Bruichladdich 18?
Bruichladdich 18 uses three sources for its barley: a portion is from Islay, a second is organically grown, and a third is from mainland Scotland. All of the ingredients in Bruichladdich are ethically sourced and traceable.
Q: Is Bruichladdich 18 distilled sustainably?
Yes, Bruichladdich 18 is designed with sustainability in mind. The barley used is 100% Scottish, the water is from Islay, the glass in the bottles is 60% recyclable, and the outer packaging is made from recycled paper pulp, moulded to the shape of the bottle. All the raw materials used to make Bruichladdich 18 are traceable to their source.
Q: Is Bruichladdich 18 peated?
No. Bruichladdich 18 is unpeated. The distillery produces three types of whisky, two of which are peated (Octomore and Port Charlotte) and the third (Bruichladdich itself) is always unpeated.
