Bruichladdich has released two bottlings of the same vintage to compare and contrast.
In July 1998, identically distilled whisky was filled in to Sherry casks for full term maturation. Recent tastings proved that unexpectedly two types of casks were used.
One cask type had contained Oloroso, a dark, sweet, fortified wine, the backbone of ‘cream’ sherry. The other Manzanilla, a pale, dry, sophisticated wine aged by the Atlantic. Having absorbed the respective wines’ characteristics, the wood has then influenced the maturing whisky, resulting in two different versions from identical original spirit.
Unusually, the casks of the Manzanilla appellation ‘breath’ the prevailing maritime breezes, imparting a crisp freshness to the wine, hence the name meaning “little apple”.
MD Mark Reynier says: “The result is an intriguing comparison: one DNA, one vintage, one warehouse – but two distinct and intriguing expressions of Bruichladdich single malt.”
More about the two new bottlings below:
Bruichladdich 1998 Vintage Manzanilla Butts.
Manzanilla is a bone-dry style of Fino Sherry from the Atlantic port of Sanlúcar de Barrameda. Sanlúcar’s specific maritime climate and marine-rich Atlantic breezes and high humidity produces a wine of unusually fresh acidity with a distinct salty character, that hasbeen designated by the appellation of “Manzanilla”.
These are the lightest and driest of the sherry styles with a clean, crisp ‘tang’. A Manzanilla typically spends up to 5 years in the solera’s oak butts continually influenced by the maritime climate, just like our casks maturing at Bruichladdich.
Manzanilla means “little apple” – as does Chamomile – thanks to the fresh apple-like taste and aromas. In this limited edition bottling we have the ultimate Atlantic-influenced single malt whisky: from the Quercus Alba oak of the sherry butts, the Manzanilla wine, and the gale-lashed maturing spirit, the Atlantic ocean has influenced a whisky of uniquely fresh and vibrant flavours.
Taste:
Honey, chamomile, macademia nut, pear,lemon, green apple.
Key features:
- Sophisticated and distinctive design –powerful use of rich gray and Bruichladdich aqua.
- Specially-commissioned and original “Tribute to Picasso” Don Quixote art print.
- Bruichladdich 1998 vintage, lightly peated.
- Full-term maturation in Manzanilla sherry casks.
- Limited edition: 6,000 numbered bottles.
- Compare and contrast – try both in the set.
- Natural whisky – colouring-free.
- Non chill-filtered for more depth and length of flavour.
- Uniquely Islay bottled at 46% alc./vol.with Islay’s legendary spring water.
- The perfect aperitif.
Bruichladdich 1998 Vintage – Oloroso Butts.
Oloroso is a dark-coloured, mellow, sweeter sherry. This particular type of sherry, fortified at an early stage for sweetness, is allowed to micro-oxygenate through the porous walls of American oak casks. As the originally clear wine ages over several decades, it becomes darker and richer with a beautiful golden-brown colour and a toffee and caramel nose. It also has a high glycerine content making it smooth, with a more nutty flavour. Unsurprisingly, Olorosos are the base for many of the well-known sweet sherries. The colouring additive E150 used by most spirits producers (but NEVER Bruichladdich!) seeks to replicate this effect.
The combination of the rich Oloroso-steeped oak and a full-term maturation in Islay’s marine climate creates a sublimelyrich and decadent whisky.
Taste:
Orange, apricot, plum, raisin, date, toffee,hazelnut, Brazil nut, pecan and vanilla.
Key features:
- Sophisticated and distinctive design –powerful use of rich gray and Bruichladdichaqua.Specially-commissioned and original “Tribute to Picasso” Don Quixote art print.
- Bruichladdich 1998 vintage, lightly peated.
- Full-term maturation in Oloroso sherry butts for a rich, full-bodied whisky.
- Limited edition: 6,000 numbered bottles
- Compare and contrast – try both in the set.
- Natural whisky – colouring-free.
- Non chill-filtered for more depth and length of flavour.
- Uniquely Islay bottled at 46% alc./vol.with Islay’s legendary spring water.
- The perfect aperitif.
How to get hold of one of these two
2008 Summer Collection: 6000 bottles of each whisky are available, globally, at a retail price of around £38. Stocks to last until Christmas 2008
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Bruichladdich always has such great packaging – those bottles and tins look perfect. Any info on pricing, or if and/or when they will be available in the US? I’d love to get a set, but if it is too expensive to get both I’d probably go with the Oloroso.
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