Bruichladdich unveils Black Art 11

Islay-based Bruichladdich Distillery has revealed the 11th release in its limited edition range.

Since its inception in 2012, the limited edition Black Art series has been said to ‘intrigue’ whisky fans across the world with its ‘mysterious allure’.

Bruichladdich is usually wholly transparent about its whiskies, revealing the complete recipe for each of its single malts – from cask type to specific barley varietal and provenance.

Conversely, Black Art is created in total secrecy, with only the vintage and ABV (44.2%) revealed. Only one person – head distiller Adam Hannett – knows the full recipe.

“Each year, I welcome the creation of Black Art with open arms,” said 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. It’s about putting faith in myself as the whisky maker, but also having trust in the time-honoured craft and the pursuit of unforgettable flavour.”

The 24-year-old single malt has been created using pre-Renaissance casks from Bruichladdich Distillery that have been matured exclusively on Islay.

It has dried fruits, leather and a hint of citrus on the nose, followed by rose hip syrup, poached pear and mango.

On the palate, dried fruits, barley sugar, a hint of leather and toasted oak give way to ‘velvety butterscotch sweetness’, balanced with ‘nutty praline’ and hints of coconut.

The finish is reminiscent of ‘a rich Christmas cake’, with notes of sultanas, marzipan and honey.

Black Art Edition 11 can be purchased from Bruichladdich’s website and selected specialist whisky retailers for an RRP of £395 (US$481).