Bruichladdich Black Art 11

It's that ime of year again where Adam, the Head Distiller - he's been hiding himself away up in the warehouses perfecting the secret recipe for the latest Black Art, Black Art 11.

Black Art is a favourite to many, with Black Art 11 is the latest annual release in this series. This is Adam’s 7th and before that Jim McEwan, retired Head Distiller actually launched the series away back in 2012.

This Black Art is a 1998 vintage, 24 year old. Ironically - Bruichladdich was closed at that time as some of you will already know (from 1994 until they re-opened on the 29th May 2001) but staff from Jura Distillery went over (they had the same owners at the time) and they distilled a week’s production in 1998.

Adam’s taste description: Colour of rich tawny. Nose opens with dried fruit, leather and a hit of citrus immediately opening on the nose, followed by a fresh sea breeze. Sweet fruit and floral notes to the fore, with poached pear, delicate rose hip syrup, cherry and sweet mango. It continues to open with cedar and mellow oak complimented with butterscotch, praline, honey and a hint of cinnamon. On the palate raisins, barley sugar, leather and oak followed by hints of coconut. On the finish oak and dried fruit come to the fore, with Christmas cake notes of sultanas, fig, marzipan and lingering honey adding to the beautifully rounded finish.

From Bruichladdich Distillery