27 THE NAVIGATOR | EXPRESSION 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-Mourvèdre wine cask, selected by Navigate World Whisky. Distilled on 01/06/2006 and fully matured in the ex-Mourvèdre Red Wine Cask, it was bottled in July 2023 with a yield of just 392 bottles. This cask strength wonder, boasting an ABV of 59.1%, is truly a gem of a bottling with the entire cask being exclusive to the South African market. Colour: Rich Mahogany Profile: Onion Marmalade Nose: Meaty, winey, brown sauce or perhaps something a little sweeter, Worcestershire sauce it is! Leathery, a Portuguese steak. Dry wood, Biltong & 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. BRUICHLADDICH 17 YO 2006 Rest & Be Thankful Islay, Single Malt, 59.1%, 500ml Single Cask #535, ex-Mourvèdre Wine Cask Limited edition of 392 bottles – NWW Exclusive
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