Mythical Beasts Bruichladdich 13 yo, Callejo Wine Barrique
Bruichladdich in a special cask? You got me.
I've been posting some reviews of some special Bruichladdich drams lately.
I covered the Jim McEwan Signature Collection 7.1 , where the Bruichladdich was aged on a premier cru Sauternes barrique. And I covered the Jim McEwan Signature Collection Series 8 , where the bruichladdich, 8.1 in the series, was aged on a Jurançon barrique.
Well, with those two being French wines, I found one from Spain.
This whisky, bottled by Spiritfilled in their Mythical Beasts range, was aged for 13 years on a Callejo wine barrique.
This is a wine region just above the Duro River. It is a very full wine, with mostly flavors of deep red fruits and berries, combined with what is described as vanilla.
Such a cask could have a great influence on a whisky, so when I got a sample to try it, I knew I also wanted a bottle.
After a few weeks, that opportunity was created by my Drambuddie @dramblingman when he opened his webshop.
Being able to get this whisky in stock, I knew I had to get it.
And, being his first online customer, I got the bottle.
A little out of the price range I normally operate, this was a no brainer for me.
I just really, really like Bruichladdich. And when you give me one that has seen a special cask, I'm in. (If I can afford it.)
To the review!
This 13 year old Bruichladdich was aged on a Callejo wine cask and bottled at 54% (Cask Strength). It has its natural colour and was not chill filtered.
The dram does not leave much tears when I splash it around in my glass and has the colour of warm rooibos tea.
On the nose you get som much: Dark red fruits, some chocolate, some citrus and some fruitcake. All accompanied by the notes of fresh toast and light notes of malted barley. You can also pick up some spices, that get stronger when tasting this dram.
The tast is kind of overwhelming. I got some heat immediately. The whisky has the viscosity that I love: It coats the mouth on the inside.
After the heat, the red fruits return, together with other parts of the fruit basket: Citrus. I got some bergamot and some red oranges.
The heat seems to come from some spicy cinnamon notes and evolves in a pleasantly acid tannine from the wood with slight red wine notes.
The finish is medium long and carries some sweet notes, but mostly consist of some herbs and spices. I got some light hints of fennel, cardemom and pepper. together with the sweetness of dried berries.
