Bruichladdich 18 Year Islay Scotch

Classification: Single Malt Scotch
Distillery: Bruichladdich
Mashbill: 100% Malted Barley and finished using bourbon, French wine, port, and sherry casks
Age: 18 Years
Proof: 100

Now here’s a dram that doesn’t need to shout to be heard. This 18-year-old beauty got a 94 from Whisky Advocate and nearly walked off with Whisky of the Year—and after a few sips, you’ll see why it did get some love as the number 2 whisky of the year for 2024.

The palate starts off like a polite conversation that suddenly gets interesting—hay, butterscotch, and a wee fizz like someone dropped a soda in your Scotch (don’t worry, it works). Then it opens up with peaches, pineapple, plum, lime, and guava—basically the produce aisle of heaven. Give it time in the glass and it’ll reward your patience, like a Highland cow finally deciding you’re worth talking to.

The finish is crisp and cheeky—apples, honey, and oats mingle with white fruits and a whisper of malt that turns sweeter as it lingers. Not a lot of oak for its age, mind you, but that’s part of its charm—it’s an 18-year-old that still acts like it’s in its lively early teens.

It’s subtle, it’s smart, and it knows exactly what it’s doing. A whisky that doesn’t flex its years—it just lets the fruit and finesse do the talking. Slàinte to that.