Monday 25 January 2016

Bruichladdich Cuvee 640 Eroica Review

Bruichladdich Cuvee 640 Eroica - 21 Years Old - 46% abv.

I've been away for a while and anyone living in Calgary will know why. Its crazy out here. When the night is so freakin' dark like it is here now, sometime you just need a hit of luxury and why not have that to also celebrate one of the heroes of Scotland, Robbie Burns. Slainte.

Nose: chocolate, orange, mint present initially and then a nice soft saltiness. Beautiful. You can tell this is older. There is some soft tropical fruit in there as well or maybe just overripe pear.  A drop of water opens this up a bit - I usually don't add water to older whiskies - and some strawberry appears with a little carmalized sugar. 


Palate: Chocolate flowing into a layer of orange followed by a soft spearmint at the back palate. Soft and drying. Second sip leads with some champagne flavours - crisp tree fruits - then flows back into that chocolatey orangey minty set of layers. You don't get french oak often in scotch but when I do, I tend to get these kinds of flavours. Unusual but very nice. This whisky is so balanced and luxurious. Luxury in a bottle.

With a drop of water, its weird, the texture almost gets thicker and more luxurious. Velvetty with a lovely, balanced richness. I think of a chocolate orange, half milk - half dark, swimming in a nice crisp champagne. Sounds weird, but it really works. 

Finish: The finish is of medium length and persistence going just into the top of the chest cavity and spreading warmth there. A truly balanced experience.

Comments: Luxury. When would I drink this? When only a sexy whisky will do.