Bruichladdich X4 89%
Advanced sample/ Tasted June 2006
So all the fuss aside, what does it taste like? On the nose there is a lot of alcohol (obviously) but once you have adjusted to it there are the unmistakable aromas of new make Bruichladdich, full of crisp apples and cereal aromas. It is delicate and elegant, less oily and heavy than their usual new make and had notes of marc like rose petals and straw.
On the palate it reinforced the marc-like quality with those straw and rose petal notes. It is light and elegant and quite floral for a laddie.
When a drop of water was added it brought out glorious aromas of sweet digestives and cereal and gave the fruit a lovely sweetness. On the palate it really emphasised the rose petals, natural oils and brought some delicate sweet spices to the forefront, which escalated and lasted into a seriously spicy finish.
Bruichladdich X4 50%
Tasted: Dec 2008
The perilous, quadruple distilled whisky has finally been bottled. Wonderfully crisp and rounded aromas of cereal, herbal honey and a slight floral, rose petal marc-like note all set against the ever present cereal background.
Magnificently clean with a pleasant touch of sweetness and spice. The palate has a greater sensation of sweetness. Seductively oily, opening with the malty/ biscuity goodness followed by cereal, marc and light spice. The sweetness builds on the middle to a sugared candy quality and finishes with a piquant liquorice-spiciness and a coastal flourish. You will either love or hate this!
Bruichladdich X4+3 63.5%
Tasted: Oct 2009
The nose offers up a lot of American oak – vanilla, toffee, butterscotch and American cream soda. The spirit itself has become more neutral in character and has lost that raw cereal character.
On the palate the oak is less intrusive and that cereal note is very much in evidence. The alcohol masks the mid palate and the rushes into the space with toffee and caramel notes. Finally a touch of classic honeysuckle arrives.
With water the oak is pushed back on the nose and the soft, succulent cereal notes are more noticeable. On the palate it reminds me more of the first edition and the floral Bruichladdich character shines through as the oak plays a supporting role.
It’s not as candied or as coastal as the first edition, but I found that with more oak character it seems more rounded and personally I preferred it.
Whisky According to Chris Whiskyman 