Review #331 - Elements of Islay Ln2 - Bruichladdich 13 Year

Written By Me, My Wife & Whisky

From Elixir Distillers, we have the 'Elements of Islay' brand. This is a portfolio of independently bottled Islay whiskies, both single malts and blended malts. The distillery generally isn't disclosed, but each single malt bottling is given a faux chemical element abbreviation, and some detective work can generally unveil that specific distillery.

Ln2 is a semi-cryptic reference to the Lochindaal coast, where Bruichladdich is located. The whisky in this bottle is heavily peated to 50+ ppm, and it was aged for 13 years in an ex-bourbon hogshead before being bottled at a powerful 59.5% ABV. This was a single cask bottling, yielding 216 bottles, and it was an exclusive for the USA, arranged by Elixir's importer, ImpEx Beverages.

Elements of Islay Ln2 - Bruichladdich 13 Year

Scotland/Islay - Single Malt

Current Locally Available Price: USD 220 (2024)

Age Statement: 13 Years

Strength: 59.5% ABV

Cask Makeup: First fill American oak ex-bourbon hogshead

Details: Not chill filtered, no color added; 2009 vintage, bottled 2022; 216 bottles

Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 1 times; bottle at 60% fill level at time of review. Tasted in a Glencairn glass, rested 10-15 minutes

Nose: Light and bright, with some peat, accented by wood smoke as well - the smokiness grows with time. There's some sweetness coming from icing sugar, and it still has a spirity kick at this age. Lemon can be found at times, too.

Palate: A thick mouthfeel; rich and strong, with buttery texture. The peat is powerful, and again, we get a wood smoke influence; there are lots of sweet notes in the background, like papaya and other yellowish fruit, as well as some brown sugar.

Finish: Medium-long - raw and slightly youthful, and lots of smoky barbecue notes. Lemon starts the fruit in this finish, though with time, we found a strong watermelon aftertaste, adding a tropical element.

Final Note: This is a classic heavily peated Bruichladdich, showcasing that lighter complexion behind the veil of peat smoke. The fruit notes, especially the hints of exotic fruit, were a nice touch in this single cask; like many Port Charlotte bottlings, the peat isn't overwhelming on the nose, but grows stronger in the palate and finish.

Independently bottled Bruichladdich will generally command a premium price - that's the case here, $220 in our area for a 13 year old single malt (albeit at cask strength). Value suffers, then, even though it's a very tasty whisky.

Our Average Rating: 7.8 / 10

In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.

Value Rating: 5.14

About Us: We're a husband and wife review team living in the Midwest United States. Generally, our reviews and tasting notes will be a compilation of both of our experiences with a whisky over several tasting sessions.

Me, My Wife & Whisky
Previous

Review #332 - Elijah Craig 10 Year Private Barrel - Wiseguy Lounge Pick 'Arson'
Next

Review #330 - Bruichladdich 26 Year Black Art 08.1