Bruichladdich Bere Barley 2008

This is the third release of Bruichladdich Bere Barley. The 2007 crops used for this spirit were grown on Orkney and supplied by local farmers in cooperation with the Agronomy Institute at Orkney College UHI (who also worked with Arran among others).

Bere is an ancient type of barley – similar grains found on Orkney reach back to the dawn of Scottish agriculture and civilisation, more than 4,500 years ago. It produces desperately low yields – 50% less than a modern crop.

Bruichladdich Bere Barley 2008 (50%, OB 2014, 36.000 btl.)

Nose: very close to the raw materials. Intense barley aromas, cookies and bread. Some heather honey and lots of pears. Very fresh. Light vanilla notes. Lemon sweets. Clean and rather straightforward, but the focus is impressive.

Mouth: intense fruity notes (pears, sweet lemons), honey-coated almonds and plenty of white bread. Vanilla. Quite some triple beer notes. Maybe a light whiff of sea air.

Finish: medium long, sweet malty notes with soft herbal touches and just a little mint.

I am impressed with the creamy texture, the pear sweetness and the focus. After all it’s only 5 years old. But I don’t like overly malty malts. Perfectly made but a little boring. Around € 60.

Score: 85/100