Bruichladdich 1993/2023 30 Year Old - Malts of Scotland

Smell

The nose unfolds with a beautifully layered complexity. Tropical fruits glide gently into the scene – mango, pineapple, dragon fruit – accompanied by soft cotton candy and delicate honey. A subtle oak note lingers in the background, tied together with cereal, Bircher muesli and almond milk. There’s even a light nuttiness reminiscent of trail mix. This is old-school Bruichladdich at its best: multifaceted, elegant, never overpowering.

Taste

The first sip confirms the promise: a textbook mature bourbon cask. Again, tropical fruit – mango and papaya now – paired with oats, cereals, and subtle chia or psyllium seed notes, evoking a modern breakfast bowl. It may sound unusual, but it works perfectly with the soft sweetness and malty core. With the second sip, the spice arrives: robust, mature oak, dry and assertive but never bitter. A persistent sweetness remains – somewhere between a fruity granola bar and sun-ripened fruit.

Finish

The finish is medium in length, oaky and spicy, with a hint of vanilla and a flash of apple. Compared to the beautifully expressive nose and palate, the finish feels a touch simpler, more on the dry side. Not weak – far from it – but more restrained. In a whisky of this quality, that makes it the “least strong” part, which still means “very good.”