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Bruichladdich thought-provoking Whisky
- Sales Team
- Apr 30
- 2 min read
“About dram time”
Nestled on the rugged Islay coastline, where the relentless Atlantic gales sculpt the lonely shores of Lochindaal, stands our next distinguished whisky distillery. For centuries, these isles echoed with the power of the MacDonalds, Lords of the Isles, a legacy immortalised in the verses of Sir Walter Scott.
Established in 1881 by Messrs. William Harvey & Bros., the distillery was considered a paragon of modern design for its time. Its early infrastructure featured expansive malting floors with porous tiling, efficient draff drying facilities, and wire-floored kilns fuelled by local peat.
Eyewitness accounts from May 14th, 1923, reveal a remarkably consistent setup, with much of the original equipment still integral to the whisky-making process today. While modifications and replacements to staves, still heating elements, and occasional mash tun components have occurred, the fundamental spirit of the distillery remains unchanged. This is Bruichladdich, a custodian of time honoured methods, where Victorian-era equipment and an authentic understanding of quality whisky production prevail. Indeed, its design, with the mash tun elevated at the apex of the building and gravity-fed Oregon washbacks below, was lauded for its ingenuity and warrants firsthand appreciation. Water, too, is supplied by gravity from a substantial hillside reservoir.
Today, Bruichladdich Distillery yields approximately two million litres of new-make spirit annually, crafted from 100% Scottish barley, with nearly half of that being Islay-grown. Despite periods of closure throughout its history, Bruichladdich has steadfastly maintained its connection to both its heritage and its future trajectory. The distillery's philosophy extends beyond its unique terroir, deeply valuing the expertise and dedication of its people, who ultimately shape the exceptional character of its whiskies.
The distillery proudly showcases four distinct key brands:
Bruichladdich: The flagship unpeated whisky, named in homage to the pioneering distillery of 1881.
Port Charlotte: A heavily peated expression (40ppm), a tribute to the historic Lochindaal Distillery that operated in Port Charlotte from 1829 to 1929.
Octomore: An audacious and intensely peated whisky, defying conventional wisdom yet achieving remarkable complexity, named after Octomore farm, site of a former distillery (1816-1852).
The Botanist Gin: A compelling spirit for gin enthusiasts, meticulously crafted with 22 hand-foraged Islay botanicals, offering a truly distinctive and refreshing experience.
Bruichladdich Distillery stands as a certified B Corporation, adhering to the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability, demonstrating a commitment to balancing profit with purpose. This certification underscores its ethos as a force for good, producing not just exceptional whisky but also operating with integrity.
For those yet to experience the nuanced character of Bruichladdich, the robust smokiness of Port Charlotte, the unparalleled peat levels of Octomore, or the intricate botanical tapestry of The Botanist Gin, a personal encounter is highly recommended...
This article was written by Mark Hickey, the National Brand Ambassador for Spirits Platform and runs a whisky blog called the Whisky Traveller.
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