Bruichladdich 2003/2025 Caora N°14

Bruichladdich 2003/2025 (56.7%, Caora, refill barrel, cask #132, 273 bottles)  No doubt already an unpeated Laddie, although let us not forget that the very first batches post-2000 had been lightly peated, around 5ppm if memory serves, under the influence of one Mr Jim McEwan. Colour: straw. Nose: these batches tend to be rather fat on the nose after more than twenty years, with plenty of candied citrus, cassata and limoncello... Yet the whole remains very clean, almost fresh. With water: I do seem to detect a little melon indeed, a wee chalky side with aspirin tablet and a few drops of yellow Chartreuse. Mouth (neat): citrus and linden infusion, and again this very textured, oily feel throughout. Perhaps even a faint saline touch. With water: eminently Bruichladdich. Melon, salt, mandarin, lime blossom, a tiny oyster and some lemon. You know what other malt it brings to mind? Pulteney! Finish: long, citrusy, waxy, with a splash of sea water. Comments: one does not so often encounter such coastal character in B, despite past mantras, if you see what I mean. At any rate, these refill barrels handily beat any other cask combination, in my view. 88 points.

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