This Bruichladdich 16 year old Whisky series was originally matured in Bourbon casks before have been aced (finished) in the Bordeaux First Growth wine casks. The four red Bordeaux wines and one white wine were declared in 1855, these have remained as 'First Growths' ever since only supplemented by Chateau Mouton at a later date.

Each wine cask adds it's own character to the finished whisky, tasting and comparing these Bruichladdich's is a tantalising experience, particularly those from the red wine casks.

Bruichladdich (pronounced Bruck-laddy) is a fiercely independent Islay distillery, and is managed by one of the whisky worlds best known characters - Jim McEwan. On the west side of Loch Indaal, facing Bowmore, the distillery has had a chequered history. Closed in 1993 and then worked for just six weeks in 1998, it wasn't until 2001 that distilling restarted seriously when it was reopened by the new owners, Bruichladdich Distillery Company. Originally it produced peaty Islay malts then in the 1960's it switched to an unpeated style, and the malt kiln was dismantled (it is hoped that this will be re instated in the passage of time, as will a Lomond still). Bruichladdich now produce whisky with a variety of peating levels and styles in their own inimitable way. The distillery is Islay's largest employer.