Table Of Contents

The Details

Rating 92
Style
Whiskey
Produced In Islay
Scotland
ABV 43.2%
Availability Year Round
Price $2,000.00 
Reviewed By
Review Updated 2024-03-25

Bruichladdich Thirty Scotch Review

Bruichladdich recently launched two new core expressions for North American buyers: 18- and 30-year-old, unpeated Scotches. The 18-year expression boasted complexity in both aroma and flavor. Today, we’re looking at the decidedly higher-end (and much pricier) 30-year version.

The whisky in this bottling was distilled across three distillation years: 1989, 1991, and 1992. Bruichladdich was largely shuttered between 1994 and 2001, so the casks used in this release were kept under lock and key until the distillery’s reopening. Bruichladdich Thirty was matured entirely in ex-bourbon casks and is bottled at 43.2 percent ABV.

Let’s see how this new Bruichladdich expression — with a suggested retail price of around $2,000 — stacks up.

Bruichladdich Thirty Scotch review.

Bruichladdich Thirty: Stats and Availability

Bruichladdich Thirty is intended as a regular release in the distillery’s stateside offerings. With a nearly $2,000 MSRP, this is squarely in the premium category, even within a Scotch market bursting with high-end bottlings. While relatively few shops will carry this, I’ve seen prices range from $1,600 (decidedly below suggested retail) to around $2,400. If you’re keen on acquiring a bottle, a little searching should yield options without too drastic a markup.

Bruichladdich Thirty Review

As with all of VinePair’s whisky reviews, this was tasted in a Glencairn glass and rested for at least five minutes.

Nose

Fresh honeycomb, poached pear, and papaya kick off an exceptionally sweet and fruity nose. The notes are brightly interwoven, with a delicate salinity keeping those aromas balanced, an underpinning that’s more like a faraway ocean breeze than any strong minerality.

Further time in the glass brings darker fruit (predominantly cherry) and light spice in the form of clove and saffron. From there, additional scents include sliced red bell pepper, salted caramel, and smoked maple syrup. The smoky elements build gradually toward the back of the nostrils, reminiscent of fresh barrel char.

The nose is at once graceful, fruity, and complex, though the notes aren’t quite punching above their weight relative to ABV. Let’s see if the palate can bring forth more boldness.

Palate

The mouth is quite the switchback compared to the palate. Smoke-forward flavors hit the tongue early, in this case toasted applewood and cherrywood in addition to the expected (and very much present) American oak. The mouthfeel is creamy, allowing wood-forward flavors to slide slowly back from the tip of the tongue.

Additional flavors — saffron again, as well as clove and carraway — follow, walking a thin line between lightly spiced and aromatically floral. It’s a pleasant enough duality, though one that leaves the drinker almost wishing for a more dominant edge at certain points. Missing are the fresh, tropical fruits I sensed on the nose.

Light salinity and dark fruits make an appearance at (and after) the midpalate, which hits forcefully with Luxardo cherry and creamy cappuccino foam, just kissed by underlying espresso.

Finish

The finish starts with the whisky’s largest kick of spice yet, which quickly peters off into lingering vanilla sweetness. Surprisingly, and just as I expect flavors to fully dispute, coffee and cocoa march in almost out of nowhere, resurrected notes at the very bleeding edge of the finish. It’s an unexpected curveball in what might otherwise be a fairly pedestrian final act.

Bruichladdich Thirty Rating

92/100

Recap

Bruichladdich’s newest 30-year-old Scotch noses well and then starts muted on the palate. Indeed, I was surprised at how mildly some of the initial flavors came across. However, the liquid is partially redeemed by a captivating and truly unexpected finish, rich in chocolate and coffee notes. I’ll be paying close attention to future batches for the distillery’s core lineup, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see the blend’s flavors evolve (and improve) with time.

Related Reads

Learn About Scotch

· Scotch 101

· Our always updated list of our best rated Scotch brands!

Related Bruichladdich Reviews

Octomore 14.2 Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Octomore 14.2 Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky:
Since its initial release in 2008, Bruichladdich Distillery’s Octomore series has built a worldwide fan base by nature of being arguably ...

Port Charlotte 18 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Port Charlotte 18 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky:
Bruichladdich Distillery currently offers three main product lines that span the spectrum of peat influence. The producer’s namesake ...

Bruichladdich Eighteen Scotch

Bruichladdich Eighteen Scotch:
In early 2024, Bruichladdich announced two new, ongoing expressions in a lineup it’s branding as “Luxury Redefined.” The first is an ...

Related Scotch Reviews

Glenglassaugh Sandend Highland Single Malt

Glenglassaugh Sandend Highland Single Malt:
In the realm of Scotch, more importance is often placed on age than alcohol content, but this whisky challenges that dynamic. At a ...

Featured Scotch Articles

The 50 Best Spirits of 2023

The 50 Best Spirits of 2023:
Read on for VinePair's authoritative list of the best 50 spirits of 2023! These are 50 of the best spirits you can buy. See them all now!

Chronicling the Cameron’s Kick, the St. Patrick’s Day Cocktail Turned Bartender Darling

Chronicling the Cameron’s Kick, the St. Patrick’s Day Cocktail Turned Bartender Darling:
Is the Cameron’s Kick a Paddy drink? Robert Simonson attempts to answer this question by chronicling the cocktail's history.

The Godfather Returns? The Much Maligned, Disco-Era Cocktail Plots Its Comeback

The Godfather Returns? The Much Maligned, Disco-Era Cocktail Plots Its Comeback:
The Paramount+ miniseries “The Offer” leans into the apocryphal origin story of the Scotch and amaretto cocktail known as the Godfather.

Whiskey From… Macy’s? Decades Before the Bourbon Boom, Department Stores Sold Private-Label Booze

Whiskey From… Macy’s? Decades Before the Bourbon Boom, Department Stores Sold Private-Label Booze:
In the mid-20th century, a Macy's shopper could have left with bags full of not only ties and slippers, but gin and bourbon.

92
POINTS
Bruichladdich Thirty Scotch
Bruichladdich recently launched two new core expressions for North American buyers: 18- and 30-year-old, unpeated Scotches. The 18-year expression boasted complexity in both aroma and flavor. Today, we’re looking at the decidedly higher-end (and much pricier) 30-year version. The whisky in this bottling was distilled across three distillation years: 1989, 1991, and 1992. Bruichladdich was largely shuttered between 1994 and 2001, so the casks used in this release were kept under lock and key until the distillery’s reopening. Bruichladdich Thirty was matured entirely in ex-bourbon casks and is bottled at 43.2 percent ABV. Let’s see how this new Bruichladdich expression — with a suggested retail price of around $2,000 — stacks up. Bruichladdich Thirty Scotch review.

Bruichladdich Thirty: Stats and Availability

Bruichladdich Thirty is intended as a regular release in the distillery’s stateside offerings. With a nearly $2,000 MSRP, this is squarely in the premium category, even within a Scotch market bursting with high-end bottlings. While relatively few shops will carry this, I’ve seen prices range from $1,600 (decidedly below suggested retail) to around $2,400. If you’re keen on acquiring a bottle, a little searching should yield options without too drastic a markup.

Bruichladdich Thirty Review

As with all of VinePair’s whisky reviews, this was tasted in a Glencairn glass and rested for at least five minutes.

Nose

Fresh honeycomb, poached pear, and papaya kick off an exceptionally sweet and fruity nose. The notes are brightly interwoven, with a delicate salinity keeping those aromas balanced, an underpinning that’s more like a faraway ocean breeze than any strong minerality. Further time in the glass brings darker fruit (predominantly cherry) and light spice in the form of clove and saffron. From there, additional scents include sliced red bell pepper, salted caramel, and smoked maple syrup. The smoky elements build gradually toward the back of the nostrils, reminiscent of fresh barrel char. The nose is at once graceful, fruity, and complex, though the notes aren’t quite punching above their weight relative to ABV. Let’s see if the palate can bring forth more boldness.

Palate

The mouth is quite the switchback compared to the palate. Smoke-forward flavors hit the tongue early, in this case toasted applewood and cherrywood in addition to the expected (and very much present) American oak. The mouthfeel is creamy, allowing wood-forward flavors to slide slowly back from the tip of the tongue. Additional flavors — saffron again, as well as clove and carraway — follow, walking a thin line between lightly spiced and aromatically floral. It’s a pleasant enough duality, though one that leaves the drinker almost wishing for a more dominant edge at certain points. Missing are the fresh, tropical fruits I sensed on the nose. Light salinity and dark fruits make an appearance at (and after) the midpalate, which hits forcefully with Luxardo cherry and creamy cappuccino foam, just kissed by underlying espresso.

Finish

The finish starts with the whisky’s largest kick of spice yet, which quickly peters off into lingering vanilla sweetness. Surprisingly, and just as I expect flavors to fully dispute, coffee and cocoa march in almost out of nowhere, resurrected notes at the very bleeding edge of the finish. It’s an unexpected curveball in what might otherwise be a fairly pedestrian final act.

Bruichladdich Thirty Rating

92/100

Recap

Bruichladdich’s newest 30-year-old Scotch noses well and then starts muted on the palate. Indeed, I was surprised at how mildly some of the initial flavors came across. However, the liquid is partially redeemed by a captivating and truly unexpected finish, rich in chocolate and coffee notes. I’ll be paying close attention to future batches for the distillery’s core lineup, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see the blend’s flavors evolve (and improve) with time.

Reviewed On: 03-26-2024
92
POINTS
Bruichladdich Thirty Scotch
Bruichladdich recently launched two new core expressions for North American buyers: 18- and 30-year-old, unpeated Scotches. The 18-year expression boasted complexity in both aroma and flavor. Today, we’re looking at the decidedly higher-end (and much pricier) 30-year version. The whisky in this bottling was distilled across three distillation years: 1989, 1991, and 1992. Bruichladdich was largely shuttered between 1994 and 2001, so the casks used in this release were kept under lock and key until the distillery’s reopening. Bruichladdich Thirty was matured entirely in ex-bourbon casks and is bottled at 43.2 percent ABV. Let’s see how this new Bruichladdich expression — with a suggested retail price of around $2,000 — stacks up. Bruichladdich Thirty Scotch review.

Bruichladdich Thirty: Stats and Availability

Bruichladdich Thirty is intended as a regular release in the distillery’s stateside offerings. With a nearly $2,000 MSRP, this is squarely in the premium category, even within a Scotch market bursting with high-end bottlings. While relatively few shops will carry this, I’ve seen prices range from $1,600 (decidedly below suggested retail) to around $2,400. If you’re keen on acquiring a bottle, a little searching should yield options without too drastic a markup.

Bruichladdich Thirty Review

As with all of VinePair’s whisky reviews, this was tasted in a Glencairn glass and rested for at least five minutes.

Nose

Fresh honeycomb, poached pear, and papaya kick off an exceptionally sweet and fruity nose. The notes are brightly interwoven, with a delicate salinity keeping those aromas balanced, an underpinning that’s more like a faraway ocean breeze than any strong minerality. Further time in the glass brings darker fruit (predominantly cherry) and light spice in the form of clove and saffron. From there, additional scents include sliced red bell pepper, salted caramel, and smoked maple syrup. The smoky elements build gradually toward the back of the nostrils, reminiscent of fresh barrel char. The nose is at once graceful, fruity, and complex, though the notes aren’t quite punching above their weight relative to ABV. Let’s see if the palate can bring forth more boldness.

Palate

The mouth is quite the switchback compared to the palate. Smoke-forward flavors hit the tongue early, in this case toasted applewood and cherrywood in addition to the expected (and very much present) American oak. The mouthfeel is creamy, allowing wood-forward flavors to slide slowly back from the tip of the tongue. Additional flavors — saffron again, as well as clove and carraway — follow, walking a thin line between lightly spiced and aromatically floral. It’s a pleasant enough duality, though one that leaves the drinker almost wishing for a more dominant edge at certain points. Missing are the fresh, tropical fruits I sensed on the nose. Light salinity and dark fruits make an appearance at (and after) the midpalate, which hits forcefully with Luxardo cherry and creamy cappuccino foam, just kissed by underlying espresso.

Finish

The finish starts with the whisky’s largest kick of spice yet, which quickly peters off into lingering vanilla sweetness. Surprisingly, and just as I expect flavors to fully dispute, coffee and cocoa march in almost out of nowhere, resurrected notes at the very bleeding edge of the finish. It’s an unexpected curveball in what might otherwise be a fairly pedestrian final act.

Bruichladdich Thirty Rating

92/100

Recap

Bruichladdich’s newest 30-year-old Scotch noses well and then starts muted on the palate. Indeed, I was surprised at how mildly some of the initial flavors came across. However, the liquid is partially redeemed by a captivating and truly unexpected finish, rich in chocolate and coffee notes. I’ll be paying close attention to future batches for the distillery’s core lineup, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see the blend’s flavors evolve (and improve) with time.

Reviewed On: 03-26-2024