Which Bruichladdich would you choose?

[malthound]

Ok... so I'm becoming seriously intrigued by the Bruichladdich brand. I have heared so many great things about the distillery, and think it's about time to buy my first bottle. I have 3 expressions in my price range to choose from. They are 1. Classic (Laddie) 2. Links (Vancouver Golf Club) 3. First Growth 16yo

If anyone has previously sampled any of these expressions, your input would be greatly appreciated!

[jwise]

Here's my review of the Bruichladdich Links, The Old Course St. Andrews - 17th Hole.

This is my first Bruichladdich expression to taste, so I am not sure what the typical distillery profile is. I can infer its characteristics, as it is an Islay, but that is all. With this in mind, here goes:

The malt is a light "sunshine" color. The high-level rim of the whisky after swirling beads up, indicating it is a higher ABV whisky (46% in this case).

Nose: Golden honey sunshine in the sea air! This is more akin to Bunnahabhain than Lagavulin or Laphroaig. Not a lot of smoke nor peat (is there any?) The sherry influence is obvious. This is a mouth-watering whisky! I can hardly wait to take my first sip, but I want to nose it again after letting it sit for a minute. I'm not getting anything medicinal nor herbal, nothing malty or caramel. I am just getting ripe fruit (kiwi?), sea air, some honey notes, and peppery spice. I am really enjoying this!

Body: medium body, smooth, inviting!

Palate: Spice; is that a hint of peat in there? It warms the mouth, with a smooth, delicious flavor. Citrus rind, a bit of roasted honey on a biscuit? The tongue tingles (did I say 46% ABV?) as it is coated with a marmalade sort of flavor. That's not dried fruits, but it is...nutty! That's what it is. Like a roasted peanut. The whisky is slightly sweet on the tongue, sending off spicy notes and tingling the mouth. Very lively. Very active. This is a whisky to hold in a while, and really enjoy it!

Finish: Wow! That is one fantastic whisky! Lots of spice, subtle fruity notes, with a bit of citrus fruit. I'm not normally a citrus fan, but this is a good mix. There is that slight earthy note at the back. That must be what subtle peat tastes like! It came out slow at the end, not overpowering. I lick the inside of my mouth, but this time because I want to re-capture the flavor I was just experiencing!

This was a fantastic introduction to the Bruichladdich distillery. I am now very curious about the rest of the range. As extensive as it is, I am still a bit intimidated by the brand.

[malthound]

Great write up on your tasting! I was leaning towards choosing the Links expression from the start, but heard how great the Classic (Laddie) is supposed to be. I can understand how you feel intimidated by Bruichladdich. I feel the same way right now..... whether it be their unusual bottles, or plethera of expression choices, I've stayed clear for the longest time. I think its time for me to pull up the socks and go for it!

I'm thinking of trying that Classic myself. The only Bruichladdich I've tried is the Yellow Submarine. Jim Murray trashes this particular whisky but I found it absolutely smashing. Really lovely, fruity, incredibly layered.

[BourbonDrinker]

How about Infinity. I recently picked up a bottle and I'm looking forward to cracking it open. I've read great things about it.
BTW as the new Bruichladdich is now over 10 years, expect all the limited run fanciful offerings to go away and be replaced by a core group of bottlings.
Cheers!

[San Francisco]

I have a bottle of Bruichaladdich Peat. It's excellent. Sweet and smoky. Quite smooth and terrific with chocolate.