Buichladdich Whisky Sample Rock'ndaal 01.1 Feis Ile 2022 Release (30ml, 50%)

Buichladdich Whisky Sample Rock'ndaal 01.1 Feis Ile 2022 Release (30ml, 50%)

If the Rock'ndaal 01.2 was the dark, moody wine-finished sibling, the Rock'ndaal 01.1 is the bright, sun-drenched "golden child" of the 2022 Fèis Ìle.

While the 01.2 leaned into European oak, the 01.1 is a tribute to the power of high-quality American Oak (Ex-Bourbon). It is a vatting of unpeated Bruichladdich, heavily peated Port Charlotte, and super-heavily peated Octomore, but here the focus is on the tropical fruit and vanilla sweetness that defines the "Laddie" DNA.

Tasting Notes

Nose: An immediate blast of tropical fruits and sugary sweetness. Think pineapple chunks, ripe mango, and banana bread. The smoke is remarkably clean and "uplifting"—smelling like burning driftwood and lemon-scented detergent. As it breathes, you get classic bourbon notes of vanilla bean, honeyed oats, and toasted coconut, with a signature Bruichladdich salty Atlantic breeze.

Palate: Creamy and "zingy." The arrival is sweet and syrupy, featuring crème brûlée and apricot jam. Then the smoke rolls in—a mix of ashy charcoal and sweet tobacco. Mid-palate, it becomes quite herbal and mineral, with notes of mint leaf, sea salt, and green apples. The Octomore content provides a white pepper kick and a deep, earthy foundation that stops the bourbon sweetness from being too one-dimensional.

Finish: Long, fresh, and exceptionally clean. The tropical fruit turns into lemon zest and grapefruit, while the smoke lingers as a fine grey ash. It leaves the palate feeling crisp, with a final hint of malty vanilla.

Why it's special

• The Clarity of Bourbon: Without the "noise" of wine casks, you can really taste the different peating levels. The Bruichladdich provides the fruit, the Port Charlotte provides the body, and the Octomore provides the intensity.

• The "Laddie" Funk: This release has that beautiful, slightly cheesy/lactic "distillery funk" that Bruichladdich fans crave, which often gets buried in heavy sherry finishes.

• Octomore in Disguise: Using Octomore in a bourbon-matured vatting at 50% makes the peat feel "polite" yet deep. It’s an approachable way to experience the world’s peatiest spirit.