Whisky Review: Bruichladdich 12 year old Second Edition

Considering all of the Bruichladdich news going on this week, I thought I’d throw my 2 cents in and refocus on what I’m most interested in: the WHISKY!

(But in case you missed it, the fiercely independent Islay distillery just confirmed that they are selling to Remy.)

So today I am reviewing one of my favorite Bruichladdich expressions, the Second Edition 12 year Islay Single Malt, 46% abv aged in Bourbon barrels.

NOSE: Cinnamon bark, cherry (black? fresh?), Red Hot candies, caramel, black licorice mixed with a magic marker, peat is there but quite light and masked by the spicy candy notes

TASTE: Sweet cherry candy (jolly rancher?), cherry morphs into cinnamon, starts medium-strong and balloons up to the peat

FINISH: Bold and very strong, move through the pallet, nice tingling that lingers on lips & tongue for quite a while

What’s your favorite ‘laddich?

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Whisky & the passage of time

One of the things I have always loved most about whisky is the spirit’s ability to make me recognize the passage of time and take a moment to slow down a bit.

Hourglass by Marc Newson on www.ikepod.com

When I’m looking over a whisky, I often find myself wondering what I was doing _X_ years ago when what I hold in my hands or bring to my lips was first coming off the still.  I think it’s actually quite a powerful thought.  Unlike wine (my other favorite evening beverage) which is aged but only for a certain period of time that’s measured in months, whisky is (traditionally) aged for periods of time measured by years.

I find this particularly relaxing.  Our daily lives move so quickly now – with the internet, 24 hour news and the ability to connect globally with just the click of one’s mouse –  I find peace in the idea that my nightly ritual can not be reproduced on the spot the next day (like vodka can be … which blows my mind as to how it’s as expensive on the shelf as whisky and why consumers continue to allow the ridiculous “rise” of the vodka industry … but that’s another rant, er, I mean post for another day).  Back to my whisky.

I understand that the inventory economics are extremely hard for producers – how do they know how their brand will be trending in 5, 10, 15 years when what they’re making today is ready?  It’s a challenge for sure – and why some brands can fall into moments when they have big problems meeting demand.  Being someone who is gearing up to release her own whisky, I am constantly analyzing these aspects and appreciate this complicated side of the business as well …

However, on the consumer side of it, I quite like the idea that time stops when I take a sip of my nightly dram.  It’s a fun ride down memory lane – I dance back through the years and smile upon the memories & highlights and appreciate the “time capsule” gift that whisky continues to give me.