The fifth edition of Bruichladdich’s tremendous and wildly popular Islay Barley series.

This hyper-terroir bottling uses only barley grown on Bruichladdich’s home island of Islay. Indeed, they even go so far as to list the farms in which the barley was grown. In this instance the grain was grown on the farms of Coull, Cruach, Dunlossit, Claggan, Starchmill, Mulindry, Island, Kentraw, Sunderland and Rockside. The whisky is made from Optic and Oxbridge barley strains.

Bruichladdich firmly believe that the terroir of the barley has a considerable impact on flavour, that has long been neglected by the wider whisky industry. It does indeed seem strange that distillers do not think more about the malt they use, considering it is such an integral part of the spirit.

The spirit was distilled in 2010. This whisky was also aged entirely on Islay, in a majority of first fill Bourbon barrels, with some ex-Rivesaltes, Jurançon and Banyuls wine casks also used. Islay Barley 2010 was also bottled onsite at the distillery using Islay spring water to dilute.

The malt does seem to be particularly forward in the character of this whisky, with a rich, buttery and sweet cereal note, which is emphasised by the heavy Bourbon cask influence, with notes of vanilla and cinnamon. Some tropical fruit, Bruichladdich flowers and dried fruit comes through later.

This whisky is bottled at 50% ABV, giving it a full and creamy mouthfeel. Furthermore, and as always with Bruichladdich, the whisky is non-chillfiltered and bottled without artificial colouring.

Another fantastic Bruichladdich whisky, which is also a testament to the values that they hold dear.

• Product type
  Single Malt
• Distillery / brand
  Bruichladdich
• Country
  Scotland
• Region
  Islay
• Bottler
  Distillery Bottling
• Distillation date
  2010
• Non-chillfiltered
  Yes
• Natural colour
  Yes
• SKU
  028823