25th Anniversary Limited Edition | 50% ABV

The Call Of The Old

I’ve always liked old stuff. And that apparently includes old bottles of whisky.

My Dad was a carpenter, decorator, bricklayer and seemingly everything else that needed the skills associated with most things construction-related. He even built boats from time-to-time. As part of some jobs he was asked to clear the spaces he was working on.

That frequently involved me helping him out and filling skips/dumpsters with all manner of debris and broken and un-used stuff. His clients would generally say that he could take anything he had a use for – they just wanted it gone.

As a result, I was exposed early to all manner of “junk” that came home, having been rescued from whatever landfill it was destined for: furniture, paintings, jewellery, ornaments and books of all kinds.

It was the books more than anything else that captured my attention. Over the years, they amounted to quite a collection and they covered every subject you can imagine. The classics, history, politics, philosophy, travel, biographies, food and more. There were atlases, magazines and collections of etchings, watercolours and who knows what else. Many were from the 1800s and all represented a world of mystery and fascination.

My Mum was not overly enthused by all this old junk (as she saw it) cluttering up the place, and much of it was relegated to my Dad’s workshop or in corners that were out of the way in the house. But I was fascinated by it all and it was the genesis of my own fascination with all things from bygone eras.

In the years since, I’ve haphazardly accumulated an array of curiosities of all kinds, so it’s hardly surprising that when I got into whisky and learned that there were such things as older bottlings from decades ago still to be enjoyed, I inevitably leaned in.

Initially, I was just window shopping on auction sites and reading online about dusties and rare old bottles. But when I attended my first Whisky Show in London, I had the opportunity to turn interest into indulgence. Whisky.Auction had a spectacular array of single malts and blends from decades past and I was in my element. From 1960s Springbanks, 1950s Glen Grants and Longmorns, a handful of closed distilleries, through to an array of blends from the 1930s, 40s and 50s, I did a grand tour of bottled history.

And that pretty much guaranteed the profile of my whisky shelves was going to change. From that point on I started to chance my arm on older bottles on auction sites (often overlooked) and began to amass a very modest collection of old bottles – blends, single malts (including some from before they were called single malt).

There’s always a risk involved with buying these bottles as you have no idea how they’ve been kept and how they may have suffered from being stored – temperature wise, on their sides or in sunlight – or worse still, whether or not they are actually what they purport to be.

Thus far I’ve been fortunate – no cold tea and no “off” bottles. Not all of them have been amazing or particularly memorable, but some have. And that’s great. Half the pleasure is in tracking them down and having them available.

So when Bruichladdich announced its Old Skool 10 year old release was going to lean into the 1980s style as part of its celebration of its 25 years since re-opening in 2001, my eyes inevitably lit up.

And my wallet opened.

Review 1/3 - Nick

Bruichladdich Old Skool 10yo, Official bottling, 25th Anniversary Limited Edition, 95% first-fill ex-bourbon and 5% first-fill ex-Sauternes casks, 50% ABV
£53 paid, still some availability

So this release had been presented as a limited edition to celebrate the “25 years of Islay-centric whisky-making” that have followed the re-opening of the distillery in 2001. Apparently, it is the first of three such celebratory releases and this one, at least, leans heavily into the design ethos of the old 1980s labels. And very handsome it is too.

The label also celebrates the rebirth of barley growing on Islay – which Bruichladdich was instrumental in making happen. Twenty-six farms are mapped on the back of the label, all of which have at some point supplied the distillery with the barley that has gone into making the whisky over the years. Fourteen of them produced the barley that went into the Old Skool 10. It’s a nice touch.

And of course, it’s non-chill filtered and there’s no colouring involved.

Score: 6/10

**Good stuff.**
***TL;DR***
*Fruity, farmy and really rather captivating*

Nose

My first pour of this was light and fresh on the nose. There was a subtle citrus element, like a lemon cream soda. Some peach perhaps. And there was a fleeting perception of some ash, which didn’t last and which I thought was a mis-perception on my part.

Returning a day later, things had changed. The light citrus note was still there, but now enveloped in the ashy, dusty note that I hadn’t really believed in the day before. Now the nose was all about a farm or stables on a dry, hot day; earthy, vegetal dust. Dust that is flavoured by decomposed and dried out silage, animal dung, straw and mud. All of which – if you get to experience it – is incredibly evocative and the stuff of memories.

I spent almost an hour nosing this as the fruit started to slowly creep back in, though it never took over from the farm notes. A decidedly mineralic note came through. Hot stones. Hot sand dunes.

This is a most unusual nose. And one that I really like. It’s deliciously weird.

Palate

Lemon Meringue Pie, flapjack, drizzle of honey and chili pepper – which quickly fades to a less assertive black pepper. Some barely ripe white peach, sweet apple, oatmeal, cashew and oak. Wood shavings perhaps. There’s also something that is slightly flinty or like a dry piece of slate, warmed by the sun.

Those were my notes from the first couple of pours. And unlike the nose, they mostly held when I returned for the next tasting. But now the whole farmy layer is thoroughly integrated, making the whole thing seriously interesting. Things are a little more creamy and malty than on first tasting and there is more oak on the finish which is medium-long and slightly dry. This is really rather captivating.

The Dregs

This isn’t a whisky that has immediately grabbed me, but it is definitely intriguing and I’m looking forward to seeing what happens as I work my way through this bottle. I suspect it’s going to grow on me – quite a lot.

Bruichladdich is a distillery that I’ve tasted plenty of times before, but it has not really established a strong presence on my shelves (Port Charlotte has been a more frequent visitor). But this Old Skool has me wanting to go deeper.

This release has been 95% matured in ex-bourbon barrels with the remainder coming from Sauternes casks. I’ve not seen any info about which type of casks, for either, but in any event, the influence of the Sauternes is so subtle as to be pretty much undetectable. I may be picking it up in some way, but everything is so strongly influenced by the bourbon casks that it almost doesn’t matter.

My guess is that the Sauternes is being used to round out this whisky and take some edges off. Early in the glass it is a little spicy so perhaps it would be more so without the dessert wine influence. I’m speculating of course and may be wildly wrong. It wouldn’t be the first time and not the last either.

As to whether or not this tastes as Old Skool as the label looks, I think maybe it does. Many of the older bottlings I’ve enjoyed have similar dusty notes and carry the malt onto the palate (which this does, to some extent).

I’m looking forward to seeing what else Bruichladdich is going to be bringing out for this celebratory year.

Score: 6/10 NF

Review 2/3 - Ramsay

Bruichladdich Old Skool 10yo, Official bottling, 25th Anniversary Limited Edition, 95% first-fill ex-bourbon and 5% first-fill ex-Sauternes casks, 50% ABV
£60 paid, still some availability

I’m going to make a big statement here. Despite having consumed whisky for more than twenty years and been really into the spirit in a big way for around seven years, this is the first bottle of Bruichladdich whisky I have ever purchased.

Considering it is a hugely popular distillery which currently sits in position three behind Springbank and Ardnamurchan in the Dramface top 40, that’s admitting something. There’s no particular reason for it. I have tried the occasional dram of Classic Laddie and Port Charlotte 10 in bars and a few other things at festivals, but I have never been pulled in by any of their releases in a way which has made me want to spend the money on a bottle.

For whatever reason, as soon as I saw this bottle with the old-style labelling and the predominant use of ex-bourbon casks I knew it was something I wanted to try. At £60 for a 10 year old whisky at 50% it is ok price wise. Middle-of-the-road in terms of value I would suggest. The 100% Islay barley is great and is probably a justifiable reason for this being £10 more than the 10 year old Classic Laddie.

I had a dig into my collection of miniature bottles I’ve picked up at auction through the years and noticed I did have a 5cl bottle of the old Bruichladdich 10, which this bottling takes inspiration from. It seemed to be the perfect time to open and compare the two. Although the older bottle, which I think is from the 1980’s, is only bottled at 40%.

I opened and nosed it and it was fairly pleasant. Apples and vanilla and not a lot else, but nothing off-putting at all. Then I tasted it. It was revolting. Musty old cupboards and cabbage water. Unfortunately, what I have discovered from opening a number of these miniatures is that they don’t always store very well. I would say most have this old musty cupboard vibe to some degree, but this was downright undrinkable. I put it to one side and tasted the latest release and I could still taste that disgusting previous dram on my palate.

Even after having a few breadsticks and plenty of water to try and cleanse the palate, I still couldn’t rid my palate of that horrid taste. The only thing to do was abandon it for the evening and come back the next day.

Score: 7/10

**Very good indeed.**
***TL;DR***
*A deliciously fruity and creamy whisky*

Nose

Peaches and cream, honey, bubble-gum and a little plain candle wax coming through. Tart fruit – stewed apple and raspberry. Aromas of the summer outdoors such as meadow flowers, fresh cut grass and washed linen hung out to dry. Polished oak.

Palate

It’s a little bit jaggy across the tongue at full strength, but in no way does that ruin things and a drop of water settles it down nicely. There’s a fair amount of sweetness, with honey, vanilla, peach and citrus lemon prominent.

As it develops, dark chocolate and charred oak come through, with ginger and liquorice, green apple skin, copper coins, vanilla cream and coconut. The apple sits with you a long time after your final sip, along with a stony earthiness.

The Dregs

I’m really enjoying the nose and the palate is a journey which starts off good, but develops into something even better, with a finish that stays with you for some time. I’ve only had this bottle open a few days and wouldn’t be surprised if it opened up further given a few weeks, but I am enjoying it plenty enough already.

Score: 7/10 RT

Review 3/3 - Murdo

Bruichladdich Old Skool 10yo, Official bottling, 25th Anniversary Limited Edition, 95% first-fill ex-bourbon and 5% first-fill ex-Sauternes casks, 50% ABV
£50 paid, ex-UK. still some availability

A lot of distilleries have a place in my heart, but Bruichladdich has a special one. I can draw an origin line directly to the distinct blue bottles of the Classic Laddie which drew my attention in the first place, but it’s the distillery house style and its characterful whisky that keeps my attention.

Whether it’s branded Bruichladdich, Port Charlotte, Octomore, or even Rhinns and Lochindaal, I’ve enjoyed every experience of Bruichladdich. I can’t even say that about my beloved Linkwood or the legendary Springbank, so it really says something about how much I like what they produce at this Islay distillery renaissance story, one that’s been going on for twenty-five years, and as marked by the whisky of today’s review.

I rarely buy whisky directly from distilleries, mainly because of where I live; the delivery costs plus import duty simply don’t make sense. But such was the feeling of FOMO for this particular whisky when I learned of its release, I pulled the trigger and made a purchase from Bruichladdich directly. For the first time I bought whisky from the distillery.

I’ve been very vocal about my love for Linkwood and my admiration for Springbank, but I haven’t been as vocal about Bruichladdich, in fact it stands right up there among my favourites, maybe I’ll describe my affection for them in another review.

Score: 8/10

**Something special.**
***TL;DR***
*Great example of a funky and old ‘skool’ Bruichladdich*

Nose

Funky mushrooms, lactic, metallic; something about the nose transports me into a dunnage warehouse, the mustiness, the leaky casks, I’m standing there surrounded by casks… Back to reality; a little tanginess that reminds me of citrus soda, or orange Fanta maybe? Very funky nose, and it does remind me of earlier batches of the Classic Laddie.

Palate

Very viscous and creamy, buttery cream cheese, sweet yogurt, white wine, grapes, grapefruits, lemon, orange, melon, the list of fruits goes on and on, and a drop of water makes the fruits even fresher and juicier. The finish is silky and lingering, the mushrooms from the nose are coming back from the retronasal sensation.

The Dregs

I think this is another fantastic Bruichladdich, while the smell and taste of the whisky could be divisive, I think it’s an objectively well-made whisky. I’m really glad I acted upon instincts, and this experience might tempt me to buy again directly from the distillery. Even if I have to suck up all the delivery and other costs.

Before I sign off, I have to declare my “bias” for Bruichladdich again. It seems to be a divisive distillery putting out divisive whisky, but it’s really horses for courses and, for me, every funky off-note seems to draw me closer to Bruichladdich whisky

Score: 8/10 MMc

Tried this? Share your thoughts in the comments below. NF

Dramface is free.
Its fierce independence and community-focused content is funded by that same community. We don’t do ads, sponsorships or paid-for content. If you like what we do you can support us by becoming a Dramface member for the price of a magazine.
However, if you’ve found a particular article valuable, you also have the option to make a direct donation to the writer, here: buy me a dram - you’d make their day. Thank you.
For more on Dramface and our funding read our about page here.