15/10/2021 Bruichladdich

Bruichladdich d.2010 (unknown ABV, Private Cask Sample, Bourbon Barrel, drawn 2021): nose: dry, crisp, with a mix of mineral and waxy notes. Hot candlewax, apricot slices, served on slate, seal wax, granite. Frankly, there is not much happening beyond the wax and hard rock, but what is there is presented very convincingly. Perhaps it has a sprinkle of car-window-cleaning fluid, or defrosting spray. In the long run, though, and that is veeeeeeery subtle, a sweet fruitiness rises, somewhere between peach slices and Turkish delights, with loud powdered sugar. Lastly, scented pink pencil erasers rock up too. The second nose has a whiff of new car, to a point, with its combination of new plastic, rubber, and synthetic fabric. To call it petrolic would be a stretch, though: it is oil products, not diesel. Later, still, coca powder on a cake, pretty close to a chocolate bomb. Mouth: oooh! Waxy. There is an undeniable fruitiness from the off, with hot peaches and poached apricots. What strikes the senses, however, is the heat. This has to be in the high-ish 50s. Keeping it swirling around the mouth for a bit allows candlewax and, especially, spent wick to kick back into gear. The second sip has chewy dried apricot slices, served on a slate and sprinkled with a pinch of ash or soot. Regardless of how that reads, it works! Finish: modelling wax, apricot paste, plasticine. A chewy finish with a mellow bitterness -- so mellow that I find it hard to identify it. What it does have that is identifiable, on the other hand, is cinnamon powder. And it becomes more vivid with every second. The soot and ash from the palate are simply swapped for cinnamon powder, perhaps supported by ginger powder too -- it is still a potent potable. This is good! 8/10 (Thanks for the sample, WK)