Black Artwork is the yearly ‘enigma’ launch from Bruichladdich distillery. They use pre-renaissance casks, together with among the oldest spirit within the warehouse. The final version I attempted was Black Artwork 09.1.
Bruichladdich Black Artwork Version 11.1 is a 24 yr previous single malt however the cask varieties and ultimate recipe are undisclosed.
Bruichladdich ‘Black Artwork 11.1’ 24 yo (44,2%, OB 2024)
Nostril: fairly complicated, with an excellent dose of sherry. There are blackberries and poached pears, in addition to leathery notes and whiffs of pipe tobacco. Some natural honey, macadamia nuts and plums. Then a light-weight tropical be aware comes out (banana and ripe mango) with refined strawberry marshmallow and an earthy contact. Some heady notes of furnishings polish and eucalyptus too, together with a touch of cognac. Actually fruit-forward and properly complicated.
Mouth: fairly a fancy (and barely uncommon) profile once more with so many various flashes preventing for consideration. Raspberry, blackcurrants, raisins and tangerines. These are shortly mixing with cloves, grape pips and drying tannins. Toasted wooden. Then leather-based and dried herbs. Some leafy notes, in addition to pink grapefruit, liquorice roots, bitter oranges and even a mustardy edge.
End: lengthy, nonetheless wine-forward, with earthy tea, drying minerals, hints of marzipan and tannins.
A traditional Black Artwork expertise: it begins off very well, nevertheless it looses a whole lot of factors on the palate because the wine takes over fully. I actually just like the nostril and I admire the general complexity, however previous wine casks depart a pesky impression. An attention-grabbing Black Artwork once more, however not excellent and relatively costly. I’d like to see a launch with much less wine. Out there from The Whisky Alternate or Royal Mile Whiskies for example.
