Scotch Whisky Review #529: Bruichladdich 29 Year Black Art Edition 10.1
Distillery: Bruichladdich.
Region: Islay.
Age: 29 year, bottled in 2022.
ABV: 45.1%.
Price: Enjoyed at 801 Chophouse in Omaha, NE.
Color: 1.5, Auburn/Polished Mahogany.
Nose: Vanilla bourbon extract is the major note here, I’m specifically reminded of the Nielsen-Massey stuff that my mother uses in all her baking. Some woodier notes in sandalwood and some oak come through as well, but this is mostly smells heavily of vanilla.
Palate: Similar to the nose here. There’s a rich vanilla note at the start. Some citrus notes in candied orange rinds and blood orange follow up on the vanilla. Adding a little bit of water lighten things up and lets those orange notes take control.
Finish: Long in length. A combination of sandalwood, oak, and orange bitter notes are what come to mind here.
Conclusion: I haven’t had any of the Black Arts from the past couple of years so I was excited to give this a shot. Simply put, this is a very disappointing dram. It isn’t bad by any stretch of the imagination but it really feels like Bruichladdich took a leaf out of Macallan’s book here. You have a whisky priced at a rather premium price point that trades in the reputation of bottlings past for marketability of something pretty darn basic. This is easy to drink and the vanilla/orange flavors are nice, but it absolutely lacks any kind of complexity or anything that makes this special. For the price point and the bottling line? I really would expect a whole lot more from Bruichladdich. Disappointing.
Rating: 80
Scotch Whisky Review #529, Islay Review #89, Whisky Network Review #695
Scoring Legend:
- 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky.
- 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category.
- 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram.
- 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff.
- 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting.
- 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better.
- 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink.
- 50-59: Save it for mixing.
- 0-49: Blech.
Scotch & Sheen 
