A Few Days Late, But Full of Heart: This Month’s Whisky Trio
Apologies for this one landing a few days late – unforeseen circumstances got in the way of the usual schedule. But some things are worth waiting for, and this month’s three bottles certainly are. We’ve got an unpeated Islay classic with a deeply personal connection, a mature Lowland single grain that rarely gets the solo spotlight, and Ireland’s first island single pot still. As always, there’ll be puns, facts, and honest scores out of 100.
Bruichladdich 10 Year Old Classic Laddie
(Unpeated Islay single malt, 50% ABV)
This one carries extra weight. I bought the Classic Laddie specifically to remember a friend who passed away recently – the name felt fitting, a quiet way to raise a glass and commemorate him. “Laddie” has long been an affectionate Scottish term for a young man or lad, and Bruichladdich itself (pronounced roughly “brook-laddie”) comes from the Gaelic for “brae of the shore” or “stony shore bank.” Raising a dram of the Laddie feels like the right kind of toast.
Bruichladdich is the progressive, turquoise-bottled outlier on Islay. Unlike its smoky neighbours, the Classic Laddie is completely unpeated. It’s made from 100% Scottish barley, trickle-distilled, non-chill-filtered and bottled without added colour. Recent batches carry a proper 10-year age statement and a robust 50% ABV, which lets the bright, fruity, floral character shine.
Interesting facts: The distillery sits on the shores of Loch Indaal and was built in 1881 by the Harvey brothers. It has a reputation for radical transparency – many bottles carry a code you can look up to see the exact cask recipe. It’s also the home of The Botanist gin, and the team have long championed Scottish and even Islay-grown barley.
Nose: Bright and fresh with ripe orchard fruits – apple, pear and peach – alongside honey, delicate florals, lemon rind, orange and a clean coastal breeze. Vanilla, crème brûlée and a touch of toasted oak sit underneath.
Palate: Smooth and rounded. Candied citrus, juicy stone fruit and sweet barley sugar lead, joined by creamy vanilla, marzipan, coconut, light almonds and a gentle peppery spice. A soft salty tang keeps everything lively.
Finish: Long and elegant. Lingering citrus and ripe fruit carry through, with subtle minerality, flowers and gently warming oak. Green apple skins and a creamy note linger.
Rating: 89/100 Bright, balanced and full of character. A fitting, uplifting dram for remembering someone special. Here’s to the Laddie.
Signatory Vintage North British 18 Year Old
(Single grain Scotch)
North British is Edinburgh’s last working whisky distillery and one of Scotland’s biggest grain plants, yet almost none of its spirit is bottled under its own name. Most of it disappears into blends – Famous Grouse, Cutty Sark, J&B and others. Independent bottlers like Signatory occasionally give it a proper solo outing, and an 18-year-old is a rare treat.
Grain whisky is often unfairly dismissed as the quiet partner in blends, but age and good casks can transform it. Signatory’s versions are frequently matured in a mix of bourbon and sherry casks, resulting in a soft, creamy, sweet profile that can surprise people expecting something thin or industrial.
Interesting facts: North British was founded in 1885 as a cooperative by several blenders who wanted their own reliable grain supply. It still operates as a joint venture (now between Diageo and Edrington). Column stills run continuously, producing spirit at very high strength – the opposite of the slow, copper-heavy pot-still process of malts. When given time in wood, that clean spirit can develop elegant vanilla, toffee, light fruit and spice notes.
Nose: Soft and inviting. Vanilla fudge, honey, light toffee and dried fruit mingle with gentle floral notes, a touch of lemon and soft oak. There’s a clean grain character that quickly turns sweet and approachable.
Palate: Smooth and creamy. Caramel, sultanas, biscuit malt and gentle spice arrive first, followed by subtle citrus, a hint of peanut and soft melon. The texture is silky rather than thin.
Finish: Medium to long. Lingering sweetness, light oak and a soft warming spice. Clean and satisfying, with just a whisper of dryness at the very end.
Rating: 86/100 A well-aged single grain that rewards an open mind. Proof that not all the interesting stuff comes from pot stills.
Achill Island Distillers Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey – Sherry Cask
(Matured in bourbon and Oloroso sherry casks, 47% ABV)
Ireland’s first island distillery, perched on Achill Island off the coast of County Mayo on the Wild Atlantic Way. Founded by the late John McKay and continued by his family, Achill is small, Irish-owned and proudly independent. Their single pot still is a proper traditional style – a mix of malted and unmalted barley, distilled in pot stills – and this expression spends time in both bourbon and Oloroso sherry casks.
Interesting facts: Achill is one of the few remaining family-run Irish distilleries. They favour long fermentations (up to seven days in winter) that reflect the slower pace of island life, and they mature everything on the island itself, where the Atlantic climate leaves its mark. The single pot still is Ireland’s classic historic style, once almost lost and now enjoying a well-deserved revival.
Nose: Vibrant and enticing. Fig and ripe peach lead, followed by honey, a touch of crème caramel and toasted oak spice. There’s a fresh, inviting fruitiness balanced by gentle sherry warmth.
Palate: Velvety smooth mouthfeel. Peaches and cream on entry develop into richer stone fruit, classic pot-still spice and a subtle mix of orchard and dried fruit. The sherry contributes depth without heaviness.
Finish: Light to medium, sweetly resolved. Molasses sweetness carries through with a touch of liquorice and soft oak. Clean and gently lingering.
Rating: 86/100 A confident, characterful island Irish whiskey that shows both tradition and a sense of place. One to watch as the distillery’s stocks mature further.
The Round-Up
This month’s selection spans three very different stories: a personal toast on Islay, a rare look at a workhorse grain distillery, and a pioneering Irish island pot still.
Classic Laddie 10 – the bright, floral, meaningful one (89)
North British 18 (Signatory) – the smooth, understated grain (86)
Achill Island Single Pot Still (Sherry) – the spicy, fruity island newcomer (86)
Raise a glass – to friends remembered, to the quiet corners of the whisky world, and to bottles that arrive a little late but still hit the spot. Slàinte, sláinte, and here’s to better days.
Ask your question
Bruichladdich 10yr old Classic Laddie
North British 18yr old
Achill Island Single Pot Irish Whiskey
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