After the trio of Octomores comes the latest Bruichladdich release which happens today: the much anticipated Black Art 09.1.
If you’re new to the Black art series, this is a mix of casks that is never revealed and is chosen by the master distiller, who used to be Jim M. and now Adam Hannett. He picks special older casks from the warehouse which are pre-renaissance and vats them to create something quite different. BA releases are often polarizing: with people loving them while others just don’t seem to like the profile, so it’s very personal.
Over the years I’ve tasted some brilliant Black Art whiskies, and others I didn’t quite like, and with every batch being very different, I was intrigued to try this year’s edition. This is the OLDEST ever BA bottling, containing a mix of the 1% of oldest casks available today from before the distillery renaissance
Not much is known about the components of the whisky, but here’s what we do know:
• exclusive to the UK market
• vintage 1992
• 29 years old
• unpeated islay single malt scotch whisky
• cask strength of 44.1% alc./vol.
• 12,000 individually numbered bottles
Bruichladdich Black art 09.1,29 yo, 1992 vintage , 44.1% abv , £375
Nose: Quite complex on the nose, with a sweet fruity yet dark and deep, some coconut, and oak amidst a burst of sweet fruit, ripe melons, and a hint of mango, alongside spicy notes of ginger, sweet dough and a hint of tobacco underneath, further nosing reveals pine resin and candied orange peel.With water: the nose becomes more wine-y mostly with sour notes, mainly on sour cherries and hints of sherry wood. I think I prefer the non-diluted nose over the one with water, to be honest.
Palate: The palate is more wine-centric, more tannic with hints of dry sherry, more wood and coconut, toasted oak, tobacco, and chocolate. There are also notes of ripe cherries, caramelized sugar, ginger powder, pepper, and old oak casks, with a vinous note to it alongside some black teas.
Finish: More toasted oak, tobacco leaves, coconut, and old sherry, drying and quite long.
Conclusion: Quite a complex whisky, for those who appreciate older nonpeated Bruichladdich whiskies, this is going to be a treat. I am not totally convinced about this one, as I prefer the more recent peated Bruichladdich. The nose and finish are lovely, I would have loved the palate to feel a bit less winey, but that’s a personal preference. Bottom line: It’s a very interesting whisky, and for those who liked the previous editions, with deep pockets, that’s a very good option. I’d settle on some younger Port Charlotte finished in wine any day 😉
Special and not cheap, but older whiskies are never cheap. 12k bottles out there, so plenty of those for you Laddie fans.
Slainte!