Or something along those lines anyway. Sorry, Kenny and Dolly. Anyway… let’s dig into a neat little duo from Whisky Sponge.

There was a vision here: release a single cask bottling from both beloved Hebridean islands, Islay and Jura. A bottling that was naked in spirit and cask dressing, matured entirely on its respective island, and offered at natural cask strength. In one hand, we have a Jura from the early years of Whyte & MacKay ownership, and in the other, a Bruichladdich from the early years of the distillery’s renaissance. This would have been distilled after W&M finally relinquished the dormant distillery (and existing stock) from their portfolio to Mark Reynier, Jim McEwan, and the rest of the merry pranksters (so many beautiful souls). I have to commend Sir Sponge for sourcing these casks and knowing just when to bottle them. Plucked from wood at a seemingly perfect time in both cases.

Whisky Sponge Edition No. 96 Bruichladdich 19 y.o.
2005 – 2024
1st Fill bourbon barrel
206 bottles
55.8% abv
Everything I want in a Bruichladdich. We’re finally now seeing what one of the most interesting makes in all of ScotchLand turns into when it grows into adulthood. There’s a spellbinding audacity to a distillery making such a standout spirit. I have a feeling that Bruichladdich’s day is still to come.
Says Angus: “…tastes like Leviathan wrestling and Dolphin husbandry.”
Nose: Nutty; milky; sour and butyric (as expected in such an ‘exposed’ outing); lactic baby vomit; minerally; sour orange and gentle mandarin; medical tape; chlorine/pool water; white chocolate; vanilla candle; Scottish tablet. Palate: putty and chalk and clay (and any sort of organic, malleable, minerally kinda thing you can think of); a few drops of olive oil spilled into vegetable oil; smoke; toasted croissants; pears soaked in brine; blood orange. Finish: a lot of phunky notes going on here, but the phinish is very clean and cohesive. Thoughts: unexpectedly smoky on the palate; this one polarized at a recent tasting; I was one of the small handful that adored it. Unapologetically, a 90/100

Whisky Sponge Edition No. 97 Jura 30 y.o.
1994-2024
Refill hogshead
203 bottles
46.0% abv
Thirty years in a refill hoggy; utterly brilliant to leave it alone. Thank you for that. Refill wood with deep years is the recipe for most of my favorite drams, so I concede a bit of ‘excitement bias’ coming into this Jura. There’s also the fact that there simply are not enough ‘Paterson-influence-free’ Juras out there (or Dalmores or Fettercairns, for that matter). Any opportunity to engage with an indie Jura is fun.
Says Angus: “…tastes like cosplaying as a pirate while being lured into a whirlpool by a devious Mermaid.”
Nose: Bird’s brand custard; melty brie cheese; loads of soft tangled fruit notes (candy-like); beach bare feet; salty bread dough; yeasty and fermenty, leading into…; guava; tangerine; very faint mango; Juicy Fruit gum; very fishing village-esque. Palate: incredibly soft landing; salted, spiced custard or heavy cream; purple wine gums; yellow grapefruit pith; burnt pineapple; vaguely medicinal; sourdough crust; insect repellent; olive oil. Finish: very clean and elegant; minerally and almost herbaceous, or maybe that’s just the grains and oak. Thoughts: Either way, a very vulnerable nakedness that I adore 90/100 (+/- a point)

I was going to post this one separately, but it just seemed to fit here, so…

Islay Sponge Part IV Port Charlotte 20 y.o.
20 yo (2003 – 2023)
Refill hogshead
241 bottles
56.5% abv
Undoubtedly, one of my most adored recent releases. Port Charlotte is a top tenner for me (maybe top five) in terms of profile, and I can’t even begin to tell you how excited I am for a future full of well-matured PCs. I feel that Port Charlotte is aging like the finest of wines. It’s neat to see this coming-of-age, especially when we look back at those early PC number releases (PC5, PC6, PC7, etc)
*Special thanks to a mate of mine out west who was doubly kind with this one. I’ll spare you all the story, but to my generous benefactor: suffice to say, I have a wee package of reciprocity coming together oh-so-slowly (no excuses for my delinquency).
Nose: Warm suede; the collective smells of the farmyard (windswept fields, cow sh*t, and horse stables); mandarins, peach and, tangerine, and nectarine; Spanish cedar; sour yeasty notes, leaning into butyric acids; lime; tobacco/snuff; brine and a touch of ammonia; coal smoke. Palate: orange creamsicle; cinnamon and nutmeg sprinkled over peaches and cream; a soft but weighty smoke (like a moist ‘medium’ cigar. Yeah… I said moist. Twice); lots of citrus; lots of creamy, buttery notes; oily and heavy; I feel like I just kissed someone wearing shea butter lotion. Finish: archaic and absolutely bonkers in an ‘echoes of Brora’ sort of way; loooooooong, but never long enough. Thoughts: Ruben at Whiskynotes nailed it: Brora meets old Ardbeg, but there is an unmistakable McEwan era Laddie-ness, too. Let’s say, divide those three profiles into thirds? I think that’s getting to this one. I have to echo Ruben’s sentiments: “this is a future classic.” What a bottling. Smoky tropical baby puke at the ranch? 92/100 (maybe even 93)

(CR)