A limited edition of 3,000 bottles for the Fèis Ìle 2024. This spirit was distilled in 2013 and then aged in bourbon casks before being re-casked in the following barrels from 2017 to 2023: Sauternes (12.5%), Austrian dessert wine (12.5%), and ex-brandy casks from Fernando de Castilla, Spain, which previously held Pedro Ximenez sherry (75%). The spirit was married into bourbon casks before bottling at an age of 10 years.
(Image credit: Bruichladdich)
Whisky: Bruichladdich 10 Year (2013), Rock’ndaal 03.1
Country/Region: Scotland/Islay
Cask: Bourbon, Sauternes, Austrian dessert wine, Spanish brandy ex-PX
ABV: 50%
Tasting this blind, the nose gave away its Laddie character immediately. Lactic. Creamy vanilla cupcakes. Confectionary. The wine cask influence gives a richer fruit profile. Salty ocean air. All the cask types play nicely together, driven by bourbon but clear wine influence. However, a little too hot.
The mouthfeel improved with time, but ultimately not where I’d like it to be. Lots of vanilla and lemons. More confectionary sweetness with a fruity background — getting primarily lemon and mango. The bourbon influence lingers, caramel and almonds, which plays nicely with the salty note from before. There’s honeysuckle lingering that reminds me of the standard 18 year release.
Everything wafts back and forth between all the cask types, telling a very nice story. Laddie lactic vanilla lemon, bourbon caramel and biscuits, PX raisins, woody oak, brighter fruity profile of sauternes though I didn’t find much orange. Well integrated, albeit a bit spicy for a lacking mouthfeel.
Rating: 3 / 5
Mental Image: Bourbon auction wine smorgasbord.