Bruichladdich 16yo, Cuvee B, Paulliac, 5,410/12,000, 46% abv.

In 2008, Laddie released their "The Bordeaux First Growth Series" which is based on a common theme of having laddie 16 year old bourbon barrel juice finish in barrels that previously held wine from the Great Châteaus for about 12 to 20 months depending on who you ask. The Great Châteaus are also known as First Growth, which is the highest rank of French wines in a system initiated by Emperor Napoléon. However, it is not clear how long the barrels held the wine. Moreover, some people say its unpeated distillate while a few others say its peated to 3 ppm, which is virtually unpeated. Cuvee B has laddie juice finished in Château Latour barrels.

Nose: more wine-like, strawberries, once the nose gets close its more turpentin-ish, more chemical. After a few sips, its mostly old steamed lotus leaves.

Palate: smooth, dry, old steamed lotus leaves, hints of young tofu, light spices that get stronger with time, nutty, tobacco, locker room at the public swimming pool in Los Angeles (wet concrete and dirty swimming trunks). Damn.

Finish: short, spicy.

Mostly that old steamed lotus leaves and young tofu flavor profile that I'm not a huge fan of, but it seems more balanced than other whiskies I've had. Spice apparently balances it out. Cuvee B had a pretty impactful flavor profile. Wouldn't say it's full or heavy bodied, but the effects are similar I'd say. Sad, Latour was one of my favorites out of the Great Châteaus. Had this at Bar d.still in Seoul, South Korea.

Grade: C

Whiskyfun.com, Serge Valentin, sgp:461, 84 points
Malt maniacs, Oliver Klimek, 84 points

Image courtesy of Eric Yee.

Eric Yee

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