Bruichladdich Golder Still 51% 1984

Professional reviews

BOW (90)

Tasting Notes by Jim McEwan, head distiller;

Character: Medium weight, clean as a whistle with a marble smooth texture. Mellow and supple with excellent clarity. From a run of experimental, dumpy, squat puncheons that increased the wood to spirit ratio.

Colour: Liquid Gold.Nose: Layered and seductive aromas opening with mature malted barley biscuity notes. Drifts of lanolin and vanilla, followed by yellow fruits. All underpinned by distinctive marine aromas. Warm sand, sea sprays and canvas sails encased by mellow American oak.

Palate: Appealingly harmonious. On entry the spirit reveals a compelling hand-made quality that only slow distillation can create. The integration of barley sugar, light oak, almond and buttery toffee in harmony with warm barley and bourbon sweet oak is slipstreamed by coastal sea breezes.

Finish: Incredibly long, sweet and super mellow. The flavour coming back for encore after encore, never wanting to leave the stage. It will gently win your affections with its purity and Islay warmth and integrity.

Mood: Mellow. Patient, quiet and slightly demure. Take your time - you just know you are in the presence of an iconic single malt. A taste experience you will long remember.