In December 2000, Mark Reynier embarked on a daring new journey to breathe life into Bruichladdich distillery, after he acquired the abandoned Islay distillery from Whyte & Mackay for £6m in 2000. His avant-garde approach frequently led to conflicts with the Scotch Whisky Association, numerous novel releases, the use of prestigious wine casks for aging, and an examination of terroir in whisky. This exploration delved into the impact of the landscape and barley on the spirit, a perspective seldom explored elsewhere.

One such prestigious wine cask is the second Bruichladdich single cask to launch in South Africa, ex-Mourvedre wine cask, selected by Navigate World Whisky. Distilled on 01/06/2006 and fully matured in the ex-Mourvedre Red Wine Cask. Bottled in July 2023 with a yield of just 392 bottles, this cask strength wonder, with an ABV of 59.1%, is truly a gem of a bottling exclusively for the South African market.

Tasting Notes

Profile: Rich Mahogany.

Nose: Meaty, winey, brown sauce or perhaps a little sweeter, Worcestershire sauce it is! Leathery, a Portuguese steak. Dry wood, biltong and toasted pine nuts. Coriander seed, cheese crackers, fresh ricotta, burnt strawberry jam, tarte tatin. A revisit after sipping reveals more of a herbaceous nose and Coca Cola bottle shape gums.

Palate:  Deep rich wine, perhaps a beef ragu slow cooking in the oven. Warming, not far off a Sherry cask on the entry, wafer, milk chocolate coating. Lots of spices, star anise, cloves, and cardamom pods.

Finish:  A finish that builds its intensity long after the final sip, plenty of Mourvèdre