First Impressions
Black Art is Bruichladdich's most enigmatic release — a vintage unpeated single malt whose cask recipe is kept secret, known only to head distiller Adam Hannett. Edition 11.1, released in late 2023, is a 1994 vintage that has spent its entire 24 years maturing on Islay itself.
Distillery & Heritage
Bruichladdich, founded in 1881 and famously revived in 2001 by Mark Reynier, Jim McEwan and Simon Coughlin, has always done things differently. The Black Art series began under McEwan and was inherited by Hannett when he stepped up as head distiller. The cask types are deliberately undisclosed — you're asked to taste blind, in spirit if not in literal fact, and trust Hannett's vatting.
Tasting Notes in Detail
The nose opens with dried fruits, leather and a hint of citrus, followed by rose hip syrup, poached pear and sweet mango. The palate brings dried fruits, barley sugar, leather and toasted oak before giving way to velvety butterscotch sweetness, balanced with nutty praline and hints of coconut. The finish is reminiscent of a rich Christmas cake — sultanas, marzipan and lingering honey.
Verdict
The Whiskey Wash and Whisky Notes both describe a dram that grows on you with each sip, layering complexity without ever overwhelming. It's expensive — well over £400 — but for collectors of long-aged unpeated Islay it's one of the great releases of the year.
