This 8 yo Laddie is a Travel Retail exclusive bottling: this means you can buy it exclusively at the airport, so if you rather stay at home, this is not the whisky for you! Anyway, it’s the only Bruichladdich with an age statement on the label, but we don’t feel like criticizing this choice: the core range is so motley and rich of distinctive expressions (the Bere Barley and the Islay Barley, for instance) that we’re in love with these “handcrafted” whiskies… The sample comes directly from the Bowmore House, where we stayed during our last Scottish tour.

N: clear and vivid malty notes (does the “crunchy” aroma exist?), cereals, frosted flakes. It doesn’t hide its young age, with a light hint of yeast from the mash tun. It’s also quite fruity, pears and apples with a subtle aroma of vanilla. Everything is wrapped by the seabreeze, with a faint echo of fish. Wonderful brine and shortbreads.

P: the coastal side leads the dance, with a first impact rather salty and mineral, with a noticeable taste of butter and lemon peel (the white, bitter part…). Later, an explosion of sweet malt, thanks to the considerable ABV: nicely multi-faceted, it shows both a side of vanilla and a gorgeous fruity soul (apples, pears and warm apricot jam).

F: long and clean, very intense: incredibly malty, with salted butter.

We really appreciate these new Laddies, it’s our secret weakness. It’s clean but mineral, young but complex… Usually, it is said that when you drink a whisky in Scotland, it will taste worse when tasted at home: that’s not the case, luckily. 85/100.

Recommended soundtrack: Animals as leaders – Aritmophobia.