I've been away for a while. I had to take a bit of a hiatus to take care of some business and now, since I think I am done that and its 2017 and Bruichladdich has done a fantastic thing by releasing a trio of new ten year olds (The Laddie Ten, Port Charlotte 10, and Octomore 10) I thought it a good time to start some more posts. I have a crap-tonne of amazing whiskies in backlog to review so I hope I get to them soon. In the mean time, hear is my quick notes on the first of the three new tens: The Laddie Ten, Second Edition. It is a limited release of 18,000 bottles.
Colour: 14 kt. gold.
Nose: Classic Bruichladdich! Honey and lemon, salty marine notes, Islay florals, fruit, and a hint of mint.
Palate: First taste reminds me very much of the first Laddie Ten released from the revival era of Bruichladdich. That is a good thing. There is a very nice balance of honey and lemon notes along with a marine tang and some crisp fruit. The first time I had this I thought it might be a little mellower than the version put together by Jim McEwan (I thought them to be very close with Jim's a little more punchy and coastal where this ones is a softer version). This coats the mouth nicely and as you sip it more, you get some more complexity and mid-palate shows a real waxy Wine Gums note along with a very faint smoke (I'd expect this is from the use of first fill american oak barrels which are charred on the inside).
A little water spreads this out a bit and takes things further along the waxy wine gum thread. Maybe you get a little vanilla in there too, but my mind could be playing tricks.
Finish: The finish lingers and leaves me with that marine salty tang, lemon peel, some mint, and some very light, whispy char smoke on the back palate.
Comments: It reminds me a bit of martini time which gets me thinking about when would I drink this. I think the answer to that is really any time you'd drink a martini... the sweeter side of this can come out for certain moods which may make it perfectly good in the evening instead of just as an aperitif or the "I just had a long day," kind of dram. Though it is bottled at 50% instead of the 46% of the previous version, I don't feel any more alcohol than the previous version on the palate. I'd also say that, this seems shockingly similar to the previous version as well. Good on the new guy (Adam Hannett)... lovers of Jim's Laddie Ten will not be disappointed! Hopefully the Ten continues to be solidly in the Bruichladdich line up going forward.
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