Bruichladdich Micro Provenance Cask #229 - 2003 Sherry full term

Photo credit: Thomas Speller

In the #LaddieMP3 tasting from Bruichladdich recently we tasted three expressions in the Micro Provenance series. First one to try was cask #013, second cask #543 and third cask #229. It has matured all its live in a Sherry hogshead number 15/298 229 in warehouse 12, being distilled in 2003 from Optic barley, and bottled in 2015 at 12 years of age at 62,2% producing 259 bottles.

The nose makes me think at first of laurel, sour mash and sough. Then some mulled, wet wood notes, almost a bit dusty mix in with the rich red forrest fruits. Christmas pudding, toffee, some leather and tobacco. It feels like separate layers, and not completely "fused" together. On the palate the sour note continues but also some very sweet fruit notes. Orange, beeswax, vanilla, marmalade, cinnamon and cardamom seeds.  Medium length finish with dry wood and cocoa powder. When you add some water to it it opens up more and reveals more layers of fruit. Scoring it an 7 out of 10. Thanks for sharing this one with us Bruichladdich!