Islay distillery Bruichladdich has revealed Black Art Edition 11, the eleventh annual release in this limited-edition series.
First launched in 2012, Black Art is the antithesis to Bruichladdich’s traditional commitment to total transparency. Black Art is created in total secrecy. Only Head Distiller, Adam Hannett, knows the recipe. The composition of the casks and their origins remain a mystery. The distillery only discloses the vintage, age and ABV (44.2% ABV).
“Each year I welcome the creation of Black Art with open arms,” says Hannett. “As a whisky maker, it is liberating to have complete creative freedom. It’s a chance to journey deep into our Islay warehouses and experiment, question, and push the realms of possibility.
“As a whisky brand committed to giving our customers as much information as we possibly can, each Black Art single malt signals a moment of total trust,” he adds. “It’s about putting faith in myself as the whisky maker, but also having trust in the time-honored craft and the pursuit of unforgettable flavor.”
A 1994 vintage, this 24-year-old single malt aged in pre-renaissance casks from Bruichladdich Distillery.
Dried fruits, leather and a hint of citrus are on the nose, according to distillery-provided notes, followed by rose hip syrup, poached pear and sweet mango. On the palate, dried fruits, barley sugar, a hint of leather and toasted oak give way to butterscotch sweetness, balanced with nutty praline and hints of coconut. The finish is reminiscent of a Christmas cake, with notes of sultanas, marzipan and lingering honey.
Black Art Edition 11 is available now at bruichladdich.com and select whisky retailers for a suggested retail price of $549.99 per 750-ml. bottle.
This follows the recent release of Bruichladdich Bere Barley 2013.
