It’s easy to be struck when sampling single malt from Bruichladdich for the first time. Immediately apparent is that it’s not a punch-in-the-face, bonfire-dram like many of the others from Islay; there’s not a bit of peat used in production for its classic spirit character, despite the island’s famed conventions. What follows is a malt with a delightfully fresh, citrusy and floral profile.

Situated on the western shore of Loch Indaal in Islay, Bruichladdich has been doing its own thing since 1881. Changes in ownership have created subtle ripples of change in spirit profile over the years. Typically, older vintages are ever-so-lightly-peated and have rested in ex-bourbon casks which lend lovely characteristics to the whisky’s development. The ‘Bruichladdich with a wisp’ vintages are lively and delicious.

Today its methods and attitude are rebellious with multiple-spirit characters matured on site in a myriad of cask types. Unpeated, medium-peated and ultra-peated spirit profiles originate here. A distillery that wears many hats.