Scotland, Isle of Islay. Distillery operational. Owner: Remy Cointreau

Owned by Invergordon Distillers from 1968 until 1993, when it joined the Whyte & Mackay portfolio, Bruichladdich closed in 1995. At the time it produced an unpeated malt primarily used for blends. Whilst well-known for its bourbon casks released in 10, 15 and 21 year old versions, it was above all the sherry-cask versions selected and bottled for the Italian market that made a lasting impression. It was for Moon Import that Penny Black 1968 and Bruichladdich 1965 (52%) - celebrating the marriage of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer - were bottled in ceramic jugs.Bought in December 2000 by Mark Reynier and reopened in May 2001, the distillery has since released endless limited editions and exclusive bottlings, including a superb 40 year old, several 1970 and 1972 vintages, and the Legacy range, primarily featuring bottlings from the late 1960s.

A flagship bottling from the Bruichladdich distillery, The Classic Laddie appears here in a version produced entirely from Scottish barley. Created under the guidance of Jim McEwan, the distillery’’s former master distiller, The Classic Laddie is a distillation philosophy rather than a specific recipe set in stone. Far from being uniform, the varieties and origins of barley, as well as the casks used sculpt a constantly evolving range.