The
ultimate marriage of young and old. ancient and modern.
Master
distiller Jim McEwan (ex Bowmore), twice Distiller
of the Year, has overseen the renaissance of Bruichladdich.
Joining up with friends Simon Coughlin, Mark Reynier
(both ex Murray McDavid) and Gordon Wright (ex Springbank)
to put this noble distillery back on the map.
Bruichladdich
Distillery History
1881
Established
by Robert, William & John Gourlay Harvey
1886
Distillery
re-built and reopened under the Bruichladdich Distillery
Co (Islay)Ltd(under
Harvey family control)
1929
Silent
until 1937
1938
Purchased
by Hatim Attari, Joseph Hobbs and Alexander Tolmie
and then soon after transferred to Associated Scottish
Distillers Ltd (National Distillers of America)
1969
Acquired
by Invergordon Distillers
1975
Another
pair of stills added to original pair.
1993
Invergordon
Distillers acquired by Whyted & Mackay
1995
Mothballed
2000
19th December 2000 bought by a small independent company
of private individuals, headed by Mark Reynier, Gordon
Wright and Simon Coughlin of Murray McDavid.
2001
29th
May 2001 - first distillation after 5 months of refurbishment
of the old existing machinery, much dating back to
1881. A new whisky, based on the original distillates
from the end of the nineteenth century is the first:
'Port Charlotte', heavily peated at 40 ppm.
2001
1st
June 2001 - The Bruichladdich 'Valincher' available.
50 cls bottles filled by hand by the purchaser at
the distillery - in person.
2001
8th
July 2001 - First distillation run of traditional
Bruichladdich, distilled at 10 ppm phenolic content.
2001
5th
September 2001 Scottish launch of the new bottlings
of Bruichladdich 10 fifteen and twenty un chill filtered,
un coloured and reduced to 46% with Islay Spring water.
The
distillery is fiercely proud of it's private status:
100% Private equity, mainly Scottish money including
from Islay, registered in Glasgow. 100% private shareholders
- no corporate bodies.
Bruichladdich
Distillery Information
The
distillery has been carefully restored and renovated
with all the original equipment being retained rather
than replaced with modern equivalents; there are no
computers used in the production process. Casks are
filled at the unusually high level of 70% for maximum
aging potential. Careful, slow distillation (without
computers but with the head and the heart) combined
with the old equipment are producing extraordinary
results in both quality and yields - much to the surprise
of all concerned.
A
variety of cask wood types are being laid down for
full term maturation (the company does not believe
in quick fix exotic 'finishes') woods include Port,
Madeira, Rum, Sherry, and bourbon wood.
New
bottlings - Rigorously selected, nosed and crafted
by Jim McEwan. Now bottled at 46%, no chill filtration,
colouration or homogenisation. Small batch bottling.
First Edition out 5th September 2001. Bruichladdich
10, Fifteen and Twenty - all made specifically, though
subtly, different. Three different versions of Bruichladdich
- not just three ages of the same thing.
Bruichladdich
10 Year Old
COLOUR: Mellow Yellow. BODY: Light fresh and full of vitality. It
simply bursts from the glass. NOSE: An assertive youthful bouquet with lots
of honeysuckle, myrtle, green apple, soft pear, green
grapes, garden mint, warm dry hay and oak shavings,
add a sprinkle of salt and crushed sea shells. All
intertwine and with no heavy peat reek to mask its
zest the aromas intertwine and captivate the olfactory
senses. PALATE: It's simple and succulent with the
sweet flavours of home made tablet, toasted malt and
mead. This is followed by fresh citrus fruits, tangerine
and orange, with a zip of sherbet that tickles the
tongue and give the young perfectly interlaced flavours
the opportunity to impress. Lastly a fresh ozone breeze
ripples over the palate cooling the fire of youth. FINISH: Like a Scottish Reel it is full of
action. Not too long and takes your breath away. Genuinely
lovely, this young islander deserves a larger audience.
Duncan
Taylor Cask Strength Bruichladdich 1966 36 yr old Deep amber gold color. The sweetest Bruichladdich
that I have ever encountered. Big, rich, and full
with sweet caramel and malt notes dominating. Incredibly
long and viscous. The classic Islay peat assault takes
a back seat in this beautifully styled malt. Excellent!
Courtesy
of various sources
Radical
new packaging emphasising the marine location of
the distillery, Islay's deep blue sea,
aquamarine coastline vistas, and white sandy beaches.
A Heavy decanter style bottle and a plutonium-like
tube complete the dramatic presentation.
Bruichladdich
'Vintage' is an occasional, single cask bottling
of superb and or unique cask unearthed by Jim McEwan
and John Rennie that merits particular attention.
Bruichladdich
Distillery Visitor Information
Modern
technology is not entirely spurned: broad band
web cameras thoughout the distillery allow visitors
to the Bruichladdich web site to see distillation
cask filling and the comings and goings as well
as just the weather.
The
original distillery full of old and original machinery
from 1881. One of only three distilleries left with
an open mash tun. And belt driven mill. A genuinely
interesting tour - minus the corporate propaganda.
