Bruichladdich The Ternary Project.

The Ternary Project is the first in a series of revitalised small-batch experiments released from Bruichladdich Distillery. Taken from the inner workings of the Head Distiller’s sample room, these non-conformist spirits are revealed for curiosity’s sake.

This Ternary Project, meaning to consist or involve three parts, pays homage to a time in the distillery’s past when they refuted the practice of distilling one homogenised malt type. Combining their three most recognised single malts, this is three vintages of three spirit types, matured in three classes of casks.

THE TERNARY PROJECT: This ‘Ternary’ is three vintages of three spirit types, matured in three classes of casks; ex-sherry, ex-bourbon and ex-wine.

30% BRUICHLADDICH SINGLE MALT: Unpeated Bruichladdich spirit, distilled before the distillery’s closure and eventual renaissance, was first filled into 2nd fill ex-bourbon hogsheads before being recasked into French red wine casks, then Pedro Ximinez sherry butts from Fernando De Castilla.

40% PORT CHARLOTTE SINGLE MALT: This heavily peated Port Charlotte spirit, distilled soon after the distillery’s renaissance, was filled into a combination of 1st fill bourbon barrels, 1st fill Oloroso sherry casks and 1st fill Virgin Oak.

30% OCTOMORE SINGLE MALT: Octomore super heavily peated single malt, distilled in 2008, filled into Sauternes, French Mourvedres, Austrian Sweet Wines, ex-Amarone and bourbon casks.

COLOUR: Antique mahogany

NOSE: All at once there is a combination of peat smoke, dried figs and toasted oak with rich dried tobacco emerging from the glass. The powerful characters of this whisky intertwined and displaying their intensity. As the dram opens so does the detail and complexity. The deep earthy, dry peat smoke. Sweet toasted oak with coconut, creamy vanilla, cinder toffee and milk chocolate. The layers of fruit go from dates, figs, raisins to cranberries, cherry and peach. Candied Citrus peels and black tea. Leather and sea salt. Hazelnuts and hints of gorse flower.

TASTE: On the palate the presence of this dram is immense. The rich texture sweeps across the palate and brings with it the earthy peat smoke, the dried fruit and rich oak, balanced beautifully with no one aspect dominating the other. Barley sugar and stoned fruit add their weight and then the lighter citrus notes, vanilla, peaches, cherry. Another sip opens up the floral elements and the soft marine notes. The characters of the three components, Bruichladdich, Port Charlotte and Octomore are all evident and they come together to provide harmony and balance.

FINISH: The finish is where the the floral notes and stoned fruit come through brightly before fading until only the peat smoke remains with hints of the dried fruit. All three spirits showing their fruity and floral style alongside the peat ash and beach bonfire notes the Octomore and Port Charlotte components bring.

CHARACTER: Experimental in nature yet composed, poised on the palate. The complex individual components of each spirit type come together to contribute to a superb expression of the distillation, maturation and blending potential of Bruichladdich. The complex cask recipes of each component and the subsequent marriage together before bottling contribute to a deeply complex style.