Bruichladdich The Laddie Eight

Scented lemon zest on the nose. Orange, apple, chalky-mineral, faint grainy/cereal notes, and hay. Scented fruit rather than floral as such. Intense but delicate in character, only faintly savoury, slightly industrial like metal tools in a workshop and a touch of dustiness. Bill Shearer from Bruichladdich has explained that they have the second-tallest stills in Scotland, and that is reflected in the lightness and finesse of this whisky. Also reminiscent of a stainless steel jug but mostly clean, only a faint suggestion of metal, oil or grease. Evolving on the nose, now showing orange powdery sweets, orange-ade, lemon, a slight pithiness, and mandarin. Later still gaining a faint lavender or purple note, again powdery lollies, slightly artificial rather than natural fresh fruits, plants, or flowers. Then came a white floral note that was also slightly herby and reminiscent of hemlock, a common weed on scraps of waste land hereabouts. The cereal note on the nose later became more oily like wheatgerm, and was joined by a green herbal note suggesting dill.

Again lemon zest but slightly more bitter lemon on the palate. Intense, concentrated. Perfumed lemon purity. Very easy to drink at 50% abv. Lovely poise, balance, and no alcoholic heat. Oddfellows powdery mint lollies and more of the subtly grimy, oily and greasy workshop tools. The oak casks used to make this whisky played only a quite subtle background note, not entirely absent but allowing the distillate to show itself. None of the flavours are powerful or bold and the whisky is not oily in texture, but nor is it a shrinking violet.

Bitter pithy citrus on the finish. Clean and fresh and inviting another sip with a powdery texture and a hint of something mineral or chalky. Later still a mix of graininess and a touch of clay-earth. Not a long finish but quite tasty.