Bruichladdich Launches Second Islay-Grown Rye Exclusively in the U.S.

Aged for six years and bottled at 50% ABV, the whisky relies on a single-farm 2019 harvest. Bruichladdich partnered with Andrew Jones of Coull Farm to cultivate the grain, positioning itself as the only distillery on Islay currently producing rye. Master Blender Adam Hannett utilized a specific wood strategy for this expression, employing a combination of first-fill bourbon barrels and second-fill American Virgin Oak. To achieve a more complex profile, the team de-charred and re-charred select bourbon casks, which imparts a distinct leathery oak character that balances the inherent earthiness of the rye.

The resulting spirit leans into aromatic spice, featuring notes of crushed cloves, aniseed, and dark licorice root. Despite the bold grain profile, it retains the distillery's signature citrus and honeyed fruit notes. This release serves as an extension of the distillery's broader cereal program, which now encompasses 19 local farming partners and accounts for more than half of its total malting barley production. The Laddie Rye is available for $59.99 through the distillery’s U.S. website and select retailers.