This summer Bruichladdich released two new single malts of the same vintage to compare and contrast. Both whiskies are from the 1998 vintage and matured in Sherry wood, one in Manzanilla casks, the other by way of contrast, in Oloroso casks. In July 1998 both types of Sherry casks were filled with identically distilled whisky and put to age in the same warehouse. Since 1981 Sherry is exclusively bottled in Spain, making sherry 'transport' casks for the whisky trade almost extinct.

Oloroso is a dark sweet, fortified wine, the backbone of 'cream' sherry. Manzanilla is a pale, dry, sophisticated wine aged by the Atlantic. Manzanilla is produced at Sanlucar, near Cadiz on Spain's Atlantic coast, 1400 miles to the south of Islay. "Manzanilla is world famous for it's marine influenced style; we have exactly the same effect here on Islay - 1400 miles further north."

Both of the casks having absorbed characteristics from the respective wines, have influenced the maturing whisky, resulting in two different versions from the identical original spirit. “Usually Sherry casks implies a nutty sweetness  leached out of the wood into the whisky. Delightful when well balanced, but often clumsily over-stated. This is  the real deal.”

Only 6000 bottles of each whisky are available at the suggested retail price of around £38. The stocks are estimated to last until Christmas 2008.

 

Oloroso is a dark-coloured, mellow, sweeter sherry. This particular type of sherry, fortified at an early stage for sweetness, is allowed to micro-oxygenate through the porous walls of American oak casks.

As the originally clear wine ages over several decades, it becomes darker and richer with a beautiful golden-brown colour and a toffee and caramel nose.

It also has a high glycerine content making it smooth, with a more nutty flavour. Unsurprisingly, Olorosos are the base for many of the well-known sweet sherries. The colouring additive E150 used by most spirits producers (but NEVER Bruichladdich!) seeks to replicate this effect.

The combination of the rich Oloroso-steeped oak and a full-term maturation in Islay’s marine climate creates a sublimely
rich and decadent whisky.
 
Taste secriptors:
Orange, apricot, plum, raisin, date, toffee,
hazelnut, Brazil nut, pecan and vanilla.

Key features:
• Sophisticated and distinctive design –
powerful use of rich gray and Bruichladdich
aqua.
• Specially-commissioned and original
"Tribute to Picasso" Don Quixote art print.
• Bruichladdich 1998 vintage, lightly peated.
• Full-term maturation in Oloroso sherry
butts for a rich, full-bodied whisky.
• Limited edition: 6,000 numbered bottles
• Compare and contrast - try both in the set.
• Natural whisky - colouring-free.
• Non chill-filtered for more depth and
length of flavour.
• Uniquely Islay bottled at 46% alc./vol.with
Islay’s legendary spring water.
• The perfect aperitif.

 

Manzanilla is a bone-dry style of Fino Sherry from the Atlantic port of Sanlúcar de Barrameda. Sanlúcar's specific maritime climate and marine-rich Atlantic breezes and high humidity produces a wine of unusually fresh acidity with a distinct salty character, that has been designated by the appellation of "Manzanilla."

 

These are the lightest and driest of the sherry styles with a clean, crisp 'tang'. A Manzanilla typically spends up to 5 years in the solera's oak butts continually influenced by the maritime climate, just like our casks maturing at Bruichladdich.

 

Manzanilla means "little apple" - as does Chamomile - thanks to the fresh apple-like taste and aromas. In this limited edition bottling we have the ultimate Atlantic-influenced single malt whisky: from the Quercus Alba oak of the sherry butts, the Manzanilla wine, and the gale-lashed maturing spirit, the Atlantic ocean has influenced a whisky of uniquely fresh and vibrant flavours.

Taste secriptors:
Honey, chamomile, macademia nut, pear,
lemon, green apple.

Key features:
• Sophisticated and distinctive design –
powerful use of rich gray and Bruichladdich
aqua.
• Specially-commissioned and original
"Tribute to Picasso" Don Quixote art print.
• Bruichladdich 1998 vintage, lightly peated.
• Full-term maturation in Manzanilla sherry
casks.
• Limited edition: 6,000 numbered bottles
• .Compare and contrast - try both in the
set.
• Natural whisky - colouring-free.
• Non chill-filtered for more depth and
length of flavour.
• Uniquely Islay bottled at 46% alc./vol.with
Islay’s legendary spring water.
• The perfect aperitif.