Islay Distillery Bruichladdich Celebrates Farmers, Terroir and This ‘Vital Raw Ingredient’ With Latest Scotch Whisky Release

On Tuesday, Bruichladdich announced that it was releasing the latest vintage in its Barley Exploration series. Bruichladdich Islay Barley 2014 finishes the brand’s 2023 single malt range and shines a light on barley, the crucial component of single malt whisky. The expression is set to release on Feb. 1.

Bruichladdich Islay Barley 2014 is a celebration of agriculture, farming, farmers, barley and the French concept of terroir, according to the scotch whisky brand. Wine Folly cites terroir as the way a region’s climate, soils and terrain influence the taste of wine. Distillers such as Bruichladdich believe that whisky holds terroir as well.

Though barley is hugely critical to scotch production, Bruichladdich claims that there are no laws mandating the grain is grown and harvested in Scotland.

“As a consequence, barley is treated widely as a commodity – often imported from outside the country and brought at the lowest price for the greatest yield,” Bruichladdich Head Distiller Adam Hannett said in a news release.

Bruichladdich Islay Barley 2014 is made from barley exclusively grown on Islay from eight different farms within an 11-mile radius of the facilities, making it a true grain-to-glass scotch whisky, according to the brand.

“At Bruichladdich, we trace our barley from farm to glass — seeking flavor, not yield,” Hannett said. “We are acutely aware of our part in the wider agricultural industry and our responsibility to not only support the farmers who grow our vital raw ingredient, but also promote soil health and nurture the land.”

This expression was matured in a mixture of first-fill bourbon casks, sherry butts and second-fill wine casks. The scotch is housed in the brand’s new, sustainable packaging which launched in July. The packaging is intended for “purposeful drinkers” and cuts down on the distillery’s carbon footprint by 65%.

Bruichladdich Islay Barley 2014 hosts a suggested retail price of $82.99.

“Our Barley Exploration series looks at the impact different barley varietals and growing methods have on the final flavor of our spirit. Beyond the pursuit of flavor alone, the latest vintages celebrate our commitment to our farming partners, as well as our values around total traceability, provenance and the purest expression of terroir,” Hannett concluded.

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