Reviews for Bruichladdich The Classic Laddie - Scottish Barley
Better for the eyes
Despite the beautiful and suspicious package, there's not much to say about this single malt. Nice aroma, apples, pears, cinnamon, a hint of salt. But the taste is uninspiring, and fades away quickly. Plus, it's expensive.
Master of Malt Customer Oct 7, 2016
Stink Bugs and Superballs
This scotch tastes like being 8 years old at the end of summer, smashing stink bugs and playing with rubber superballs. It has a sweaty aftertaste and a kind of lemony vanilla aroma, like having played with ants for a few hours in the hot sun, then sucking on an old, stale box of lemon heads. Ants. That's it. I'm sure there are some ants in this scotch.
Jeffedward Oct 4, 2016
Batch to batch variation
Based on reviews I think this bottle may have a large batch to batch variation.
The bottle I tried at a restaurant was brilliant. Screamed creme brulee at me and I felt the oak used was of particularly flavorful - it had an oakiness that felt more... textured than other woody whiskys I've tried. It's on my bottle buy list... I just hope I get one that's as good as what I've tried. It blew away the Dalmore 15 that disappointed night before.
Regarding people saying it's youthful... I wonder if this is due to less experienced palates perceiving the 50% abv as youth or perhaps people not letting the whisky open up before drinking it. I prefer cask strength whiskys and found this quite interesting - something about it stood out from the usual toffeed fruit butterscotch, type profile.
As a side note... I tasted this whisky with very low expectations. I hate the packaging too. But what I tried inside was brilliant. For reference, I'm a Springbank and Ardbeg fan... and prefer virgin, bourbon or medium sherry cask influences to the sherry cask monsters that have become fashionable of late. I do agree that they should slap an age onto it even if it just says 6yo. Let the flavor speak for itself like the Indian whiskys do.
Cheers.
apdz Sep 7, 2016
A DEFINITE MISS!!! More thought was given to the bottle design which has more appeal & complexity than the mono-dimensional swill within it.
Perhaps, the worst single malt that has flowed down this seasoned gullet. I truly believe that specialty niche marketing has gone too far with this brew. Please do not waste your money or time on this one. RL in Virginia, USA.
Randy Liebermann Aug 9, 2016
Weak and one-dimensional
What on earth are Bruichladdich playing at? Don't get me wrong, I'm a MASSIVE fan of distilleries (wherever they are) experimenting and Bruichladdich certainly aren't afraid of taking risks. This, however, in my opinion, was a huge mistake to release. Absolutely no complexity at all - it's obviously VERY young and it tastes it. Very pale colour and utterly one-dimensional in terms of flavour. They need to take a leaf out of Buffalo Trace's book when it comes to experimentation - they have done some incredible things and they release their "experiments" at sensible prices. This might be the most overpriced whisky I have ever had the misfortune of buying. Avoid at all costs.
Master of Malt Customer Jul 17, 2016
Trade
Staff Pick
Winner of 2 awards
