Bruichladdich Reveals 'World Premier' in Whisky

Bruichladdich Distillery has unveiled a first. The Scottish distillery has, for the very first time, quadruple-distilled a whisky and matured it for 18 years.

Bruichladdich has never shied away from bold whisky experiments—whether that’s spontaneously firing up a Scottish rye or trying something radical in distillation. Now the distillery claims a world first: the ‘first’ 18-year-old Scottish whisky distilled four times—the Bruichladdich X4+18 Edition 1. And it also marks the beginning of a four-part release.

The whisky was distilled in 2006 by Jim McEwan MBE and later given a finishing touch by Adam Hannett, the distillery’s master blender. Hannett notes that the distillery has never been afraid to push boundaries—and they’ve done it again with this whisky.

Bruichladdich’s whisky isn’t the first ever to be distilled four times. It’s been done before—though, according to Hannett, it’s still almost unheard of.

Back in the 17th century this was already happening in Scotland, and the Islay distillery itself has produced other whiskies distilled four times. Examples include the Bruichladdich X4+3 (3 years old) and the X4+10 (10 years old).

Bruichladdich has released tasting notes right away, so you know what to expect. On the nose: dried apricot, sweet mango, and toasted oak.

On the palate: fruit, Christmas cake, and citrus marmalade. As for the finish, they haven’t said.

The whisky is bottled at 63.5% alcohol by volume (ABV).

Bruichladdich X4+18 is limited to 2,400 bottles. The price is £225 per bottle. You’ll find it at select retailers and via the distillery’s website.