Bruichladdich Bere Barley 2008

Bruichladdich Bere Barley 2008, ~6 YO, 50 %

We are testing a Travel Retail Exclusive today. The Bruichladdich Bere Barley 2008 was announced in October 2014, and is the third release of Bruichladdich Bere Barley. It was distilled in early 2008, and bottled in 2014, making it about 6 years old. The release is 'limited' to 36000 bottles.

Bere is an ancient barley type, and they have found traces of this in the Neolithic village of Skara Brae on Orkney, dating back more than 4,500 years.

Bere barley has a very low yield, compared to modern barley crops, in fact less than 50 % the yield. It is very rich in starch. Here is what Bruichladdich Distillery say about the sourcing of the bere barley for this release:

This 2007 crop was grown on Orkney and supplied by the Agronomy Institute at Orkney College UHI working with the following local farmers: Duncan Cromarty at Richmond Villa on South Ronaldsay, Keith Hourston at Skelbister in Orphir and Magnus Spence from The Northfield on Burray.

Nose (23/25): Barley and barley sugar. It is quite fantastic how clean and crisp the nose is! This is one of the very cleanest barley noses I have come across. Wow! This is great fun! Mild and soft otherwise, slightly herbal and 'green'. Quite sweet and rich.

Taste (22/25): Sugar, vanilla, and hints of fruit. Mild caramel and fudge. Soft, creamy, and rich. Mild and light deliciousness.

Finish (20/25): Caramel, licorice and a hint of herbs. A bit short. The young age does come through, and it dies off a bit too early.

Balance (21/25): Wow, what a fun nose!

Score (86/100)

Image from Bruichladdich Distillery.

Sláinte! - Thomas