Bruichladdich Black Art 11.1, 24 years old, Limited Edition: 2023 Release / 44.2% / 0.7l

The creation of perhaps the most charismatic master distiller of all time, Jim McEwan, the Black Art series debuted in 2009 and was intended to reflect “[the creator’s] journey into the heart of Bruichladdich.”

The selection of the barrels remained a secret for Jim, the only fully initiated person. Jim McEwan left Bruichladdich in the summer of 2015 and Adam Hannett took over as master distiller. The 11.1 edition of “Black Magic” presented here is the seventh one put together by Hannett. All we know is that it is a whisky aged for 24 years on the Isle of Islay and bottled at 44% abv in the autumn of 2023. The rest remains the secret of the creator. Traditionally, the bottles are decorated with a hexagram, which adds to the mystery of this whisky.

Nose: rich, cherries, plums, stewed pears, dried mango, pralines, milk fudge, milk chocolate, honey, notes of cinnamon and nutmeg, a trace of leather and a breath of sea breeze.

Palate: raisins and sultanas, dried dates, buckwheat honey, toffee, marzipan, coconut, orange peel, pears, cinnamon, notes of leather, tobacco and toasted oak.

Finish: long, with notes of dried fruit, Christmas fruit cake, marzipan, honey, cinnamon, cloves, a pinch of salt and oak tannins.