Review #629 - Single Malts of Scotland Bruichladdich 29 Year Single Cask - Spec's Selection
It isn't often you see unpeated Bruichladdich bottled by an independent bottler; it's even less common that is has a hefty age statement such as 29 years, as this single cask from the Single Malts of Scotland does. This spirit was distilled in 1992 and bottled in 2022; the single cask was selected by Spec's, a liquor store chain in Texas, USA.
The cask type listed on the label is a 'hogshead' - they don't specify what was in the cask before this Bruichladdich, but based on the color and the flavor of the whisky, we're assuming it was an ex-bourbon cask. After those 29 years of aging, this was bottled at a strength 49.6% ABV.
Single Malts of Scotland Bruichladdich 29 Year Single Cask - Spec's Selection
Scotland/Islay - Single Malt
Price: USD 390 (2025)
Age Statement: 29 Years
Strength: 49.6% ABV
Cask Makeup: Ex-bourbon hogshead
Details: Not chill filtered, no color added; cask 3846; distilled December 2, 1992; bottled February 14, 2022; 169 bottles
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 1 time; bottle at 60% fill level at time of review. Tasted in a nosing glass, rested 15+ minutes
Nose: Herbal and pretty - there's a nice malt note still present after 29 years, and it brings a soft musty note. Mild vegetal notes and olive oil combine with buttery (yet dry) oak; later, there's a mellow peach scent.
Palate: The mouthfeel has a medium thickness; that malty note returns, accented by dried grass, hay, and herbal notes. The oak is peppery and spicy now, bringing plenty of tannins; with time, the oak developed a polished note. Vanilla adds soft sweetness.
Finish: Tannins continue to build - peppery oak, wood oils, old antique furniture wood. It's somewhat light and dry; there is a nice honey note to add balance, and it's a medium length finish.
Final Note: A pleasant unpeated Bruichladdich, one that shows more of the malty, distillate-focused side of the spirit as opposed the casks, as many Bruichladdich bottlings from this time do. It's also a neat peek into the character of the whisky from before Bruichladdich was shuttered, purchased, and re-opened around the turn of the millennium - quite floral, herbal, and light. The oak started quite subtle, but it did begin to dominate toward the end - quite peppery and spicy.
Value isn't great because of the high price, although it is a rare treat to try such an old Bruichladdich. Any other bottlings from the distillery of a comparable age are likely to be much more expensive, perhaps even 2 to 3 times as expensive; in that light, this could actually be a pretty good purchase.
Our Average Rating: 7.0 / 10
In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.
Value Rating: 3.83
About Us: We're a husband and wife review team living in the Midwest United States. Generally, our reviews and tasting notes will be a compilation of both of our experiences with a whisky over several tasting sessions.
Check out our other reviews of unpeated Bruichladdich whiskies:
Review #584 - Bruichladdich Bere Barley 2010
Review #341 - Bruichladdich 18 Year
Review #330 - Bruichladdich 26 Year Black Art 08.1
Review #128 - Bruichladdich Black Art 09.1 29 Year
