Bruichladdich Black Art 1990 - Edition 04.1. - 49,2%
Photo taken somewhere in Stuttgart
Ultra rare and old casks, personally picked by Jim McEwan himself in the black of the night, leaving absolutely everybody in the dark about the content - we find such stories always funny. Did he also filled the bottles by himself? But enough ridicule, Jim's blending skills are legendary. We expect this dram to be entertaining as hell.
Nose
Hold on, this isn't Guayana right? A fresh opened paint bucket, mixed with shoe and wood polish. There is also fine liquorice, tobacco leaves, sticky molasses and a pronouned anise note. This is goddam close to the old Velier Demeraras, something between Uitvlugt and Albion to be precise. After a while in the glass dark fruits appear, mostly old dates and figs which are filled with walnuts and mint leaves and dipped into cough syrup. Leaning towards old Speyside Sherry Monsters now.
With water: Becoming more herbal, almost ritual, with whiffs of incence, myrrh and sandalwood. A few naked people in addition and Stanley Kubruck would've had his bright joy in it.
Palate
Damn, that boy's tremendously rich and heavy (Rockefeller dimensions) with being smooth and oily at the same time. The 23 years have rounded all rough edges. A lot going on here: swiss milk chocolate, filter coffee and date jam. But there's also a very strong nutty side, predominantly supplying walnuts, macadamias and hazelnuts. Considering the impressions on the palate, we could swear that we also found Marsalla casks. But how to proof that? With water: The chocolate and coffee note is becoming stronger.
Finish
Lingering on the tongue for hours, with that pleasant cocoa bitterness and a really heavy nutty taste, like never experienced before (one for the Nutella lovers out there).
Rating
This series is loved by many and heavily critizised by a few, due to it's heavy wood influence. Granted, the nutty notes on the finish were maybe a bit too heavy. But minding that balancing act between old Speysiders and Demeraras, the nose was kind of spectacular. Wood polish, aniseed and the smell of wet paint somehow push our buttons. Hard to judge.
