We’re back with a selection from The Roots. There’s another Cooley 2001 (similar to the ones we tried late 2025), a peated Bruichladdich 2010 and something that never goes by unnoticed: Bushmills 1991.
Bushmills 34 yo 1991 (48,4%, The Roots 2025, bourbon barrel #8285, 103 btl.)
Nose: oh it’s one of the peated versions? At least I’m getting some roasted herbal notes and very subtle medicinal hints. Also linseed oil or hints of a Barbour jacket, and a few grassy notes. Then the tropical fruits appear in the background, like pineapple, banana and mango. Hints of peach yoghurt.
Mouth: oh yes, a nice oily texture and now the tropical fruit salad get much more intense. Mango, a little passion fruit syrup, hints of sharon fruit and banana ice cream. Hints of hibiscus and lemon green tea. Underneath there is still the slightly mentholated / medicinal side, even a faint hint of salt.
Finish: moderately long, still these mango and papaya hints with herbal notes.
We had many similar (undisclosed) bottlings around 2014-2016 – great to try this profile again. A precious find and a lovely combination of tropical fruits and faded peat. Top notch whiskey.
Cooley 24 yo 2001 (51,9%, The Roots 2025, Oloroso sherry butt #2367, 180 btl.)
Nose: a bit of a Riesling vibe at first. Ripe apples, light papaya and floral honey. Soft greasy notes. Then it gets a little darker, with a hint of bramble and echoes of tobacco. Mango appears late, along with a pleasant hint of red candy. The sherry is so delicate but it adds a lot of maturity.
Mouth: spicy notes come forward now. Hints of candied ginger, warm spice, with a clear waxiness. Ripe fruits, including some light tropical notes. Melons, mango and papaya again , but they sherry caps makes it darker again. A little pepper and a few herbal drops towards the end.
Finish: long, still warming and matured, with refined spice and lingering juiciness.
Even better than I expected: the combination of sherry and Irish fruits is rich and balanced. It really lifts it to a higher level. I loved cask #2656 but when forced I would probably choose this one. Score: 90/100
Bruichladdich / Lochindaal 14 yo 2010 (52,8%, The Roots 2025, barrel, 155 btl.)
Nose: a lovely warm smokiness, with lots of tobacco notes, smoked mint leaves, a drop of sunflower oil and some of the typical Laddie farmyard elements. Then mercurochrome, lemon zest and a nice hint of sugared fruit in the distance.
Mouth: a warm and sooty kind of peat again, with a lot of charcoal and a hint of bacon. Then salted lemons, black pepper and smoked olive oil. Mid-palate it becomes sharper and more herbal, on iodine and menthol. Also anchovies and the bitterness of grapefruit peels.
Finish: long, saline, with liquorice, pepper and medicinal hints.
I’m generally a fan of Lochindaal, but this one seems a little sharper and more towards the medicinal profile of Laphroaig, let’s say. I’ll go for the fruit bombs today, especially since Lochindaal spirit comes at a high price. Score: 88/100