Bruichladdich 13, 2004-2017, The Whisky Find, Grenache Blanc Finish, Cask# 1536, 295 bottles, 63.4% abv.

The Whisky Find released an Alcoholic Poet Series with depictions of famous Chinese poets on the labels. This label shows Su Shi, 蘇軾, who has a pretty interesting history. To summarize, he was a genius in ancient China and was able to rise the ranks quickly. However, he was banished due to the interpretation of one of his poems. This would give him a life of hardship. In his life, he married three times, the first one was 16, the second one was the first's cousin and she was 20, and the third one was his handmaiden/slave, but I think she was his concubine and then just became a wife after the 2nd wife passed away. Another interesting thing is the famous Hangzhou dish, Dongpo pork (東坡肉), was named after him, although there are varying accounts at how it came to be.

Nose: major dried plums/prunes, dried dates, white grapes. Some bread, pretty strong stuff.

Palate: burnt toast, woody, hints cinnamon, burnt stuff in general on the mid-palate, light hints of old steamed lotus leaves on the back palate. Is that the Granache?!?! I don't even know what Granache Blanc is.

Finish: moderate, dry, abv numbness, leftover burnt residue on the oiled frying pan.

Wow, quite tasty, but a little too much on the burnt side. Gotta give it to The Whisky Find, they continue to find some casks that I think other IBs aren't willing to risk. Or perhaps I'm not ready for a 63%-er.

Grade: C+

Image courtesy of Eric Yee.

Eric Yee

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