Bruichladdich – Black Art 11.1 24 Years Old (70cl, 44.2%)

Bruichladdich Black Art 11.1 is a 24 year old unpeated single malt from Islay, bottled at 44.2% in a 70cl bottle. Every cask chosen for it was filled before the distillery reopened, so the whisky has spent almost a quarter of a century maturing on the island. The head distiller alone decides how many casks and which cask types are married for each Black Art release, and this is the seventh in the series. The nose opens with dried fruit, leather and a little citrus, then sea spray, poached pear, rosehip syrup, black cherry and ripe mango. The palate brings dates, raisins, malt sugar, leather and oak, with toasted oak, dark plums and marzipan. The finish is long, with oak, dried fruit, Christmas baking, figs and honey.