Experience the complex and robust flavour of this heritage barley varietal, with Bruichladdich Bere Barley 2013. Delicately balanced with hints of fresh green fruits and lightly spiced gingerbread, this whisky is a testament to the resilience of ancient grain.
Dating back to the dawn of Scottish agriculture, Bere barley is one of the most fascinating and genetically diverse grains still cultivated today. As well as having a unique flavour, championing the ancient strain builds resilience and adds variety to barley growing. And at Bruichladdich Distillery, we recognise that genetic diversity is crucial to future-proofing land management.
We have been working with the University of the Highlands and Island’s Agronomy Institute since 2005 to reintroduce Bere barley to the whisky industry. Bruichladdich Bere Barley 2013 is a testament to this complex cereal.
Matured in a combination of first-fill bourbon barrels and second-fill Pauillac wine casks, the single malt delicately balances the malty sweetness of the Bere barley with the oak, with hints of fresh green fruits and lightly spiced gingerbread.
Colour
Golden Sands
Nose
Aromas of warm citrus, tropical fruit, and sweet malty flour are immediate on the nose. As the whisky opens the sweetness of the fruit, oak and malted Bere barley combine to give an uplifting, sunny feel to the dram, enhanced with fragrant peach skin, fresh vanilla pods, candied orange and creamy fudge. Over time, delicate floral notes of rose and subtle sweet violet appear.
Palate
On the palate, the presence of the malted grain is unmistakable with notes of popcorn, brown sugar and warm porridge. The Bere barley provides a soft, rounded mouthfeel, beautifully complementing the sweet, stoned fruit notes. Apricot, peach, melon and candied orange are balanced with the gentle influence of the oak, which adds a hint of vanilla, coconut and marzipan.
Finish
Milk chocolate, malted grain and crème brulee add to the soft finish, while a hint of mango and orange blossom honey linger.
Character
Barley has its own unique style. The spirit distilled from this ancient, genetically diverse grain stands apart, with the hardy character of the barley evident alongside the incredible amount of fruit and floral notes derived from a long fermentation and traditional distillation. As the spirit matures on Islay, in quality American oak barrels, each Bere barely vintage takes shape – telling the story of the grain, of terroir, of tradition, and of our progressive thinking and careful cask selection to showcase its unique flavour.
Specifications
