Bruichladdich The Ternary Project

A grand nose followed by a mediocre palate. It’s the wine casks inflicting the damage. But oh what a great nose it is!

According to Laddie, the "Ternary Project" consists of three vintages with three distillates, aged in three types of casks; Ex-sherry, ex-bourbon and ex-wine. There are 4,000 bottles worldwide. It was bottled with 52.1 vol.%. 30% BRUICHLADDICH: Distilled before the distillery closes and shortly after it reopens. The Laddie portion was first bottled in 2nd Fill Ex-Bourbon Hogsheads before being decanted into French red wine casks and then into Fernando De Castilla's Pedro Ximinez Sherry Butts. The largest share with a total of 40% go up PORT CHARLOTTE back. This malt was distilled shortly after the reopening ... I thought everything here would have gone into the heretic?! ... it doesn't matter. The PC matured in a combination of 1st Fill Bourbon casks, 1st Fill Oloroso Sherry casks and 1st Fill Virgin Oak casks. 30% OCTOMORE from 2008, bottled in Sauternes, French Mourvedres, Austrian sweet wines, ex-Amarone and bourbon barrels. It all sounds very tasty. Color: dark amber Nose: The smoke dominates from the start. Even if not, as one is used to from an Octomore. The typical herbaceous note of the Octomore comes through very nicely. Everything very finely and subtly interwoven. Not full on the twelve, but really elegant. Crispy fried bacon, heavily caramelized sugar. Really difficult, as it is complex for nosing. But it's not really a miracle when it comes to the composition of the barrels. The fruits come later (dates, cherries). A hint of toffee and vanilla. The alcohol is wonderfully integrated. The 52 vol. % wear the paint correctly. Are not pushy and not too weak. Behind it spices and oak and something perfumed, which I can't really assign yet. The anticipation for the first sip increases. Taste: At first quite sweet on the tongue. The caramel is back. Followed by smoke and herbs. Very mineral and earthy with notes of spice and tobacco. A real board. All the flavors are so tightly interwoven here too. That's how it has to be. The cherries get through easily again, but we're not kidding. The earthy and mineral notes dominate, which, paired with the smoke, are simply fantastic. It's really tasty and pleasing. Finish: dark, heavy with notes of tobacco and dark chocolate. Again, earthy and mineral.

A decent blend of the main three house styles that really works well, but the price tag is pretty hefty. It's a shame if drinkers get priced out of being to taste whisky that is obviously made with care.

I have the impression that the whisky loses its quality as the bottle becomes less full; oxidation is not good for it.

pretty good

Tasted at the inaugural meetup of a local community. I think this is what the Rockn'daal was expected to taste like for many, including me. Maybe not as much modern Laddie-like, but the presence of PC and Octomore parcels are felt throughout and delicious.

Amber color. Slight oiliness.

Perfectly balanced sweetness, a delicious experience.

Drinking Date：11/1/2025

sample tasting

small sample and quick rating in chaotic conditions, but at first glance the whisky, while interesting, didn't seem to be offering much more than 86 points

Too much peat, too strong and powerful, family members

EYE / NOSE Visually a pleasure. A strong, old golden hue invites you to taste it. The malt forms wide strips on the edge of the glass, while 'the blood of Scotland' runs slowly and oily. Drop by drop. Herbal nose - cloves, mint, tarragon, vanilla pulp - a bit fleshy, due to the omnipresent cold smoke notes I feel briefly reminded of smoked ham and gravy. However, the impression fades with time and gives way to a pleasant sweetness that reminds me of slowly caramelizing brown sugar, deeply interwoven with typical Bruichladdich smoke, of course. A very fresh, maritime fragrance emanates from my Glencairn, which I also appreciate in the really outstanding OA Octomores, 2.2, 4.2 and 6.3. Under no circumstances alcoholic, our test subject. The remaining 52.1% cask strength transport numerous aromas without bringing themselves to the fore inappropriately. That's how it should be. Interesting, this pleasant freshness, because the long-matured Bruichladdich portion in particular could have brought out older, 'dusty' aromas. I perceive sweet pipe tobacco and some fruit, juicy pear and red apple, both fresh from the smoker, of course. That smells delicious. Very promising start! PALATE Extremely pleasant 'working' feeling on the tongue while I slowly and enjoyably roll the malt back and forth in my mouth. The full, ripe mouthfeel is convincing across the board. The aromas from the nose are almost identical in the taste. A very stringent malt. An elegant, sweet, strong smoker who is significantly influenced by his Octomore components. The elemental force of some other, much younger Octomores such as 'Orpheus' or 'Son of Orpheus' is unfortunately missing here, but the complex elegance of the Ternary knows how to please both the nose and the palate. Here, too, the smoke carpet is more of a main actor than a decorative accessory. In addition, pecan nuts, corn syrup and dried fruits such as figs and sultanas - everything fresh from the smoker, of course, goes without saying. The taste of the malt has a thoroughly engaging depth and balance. The taste is also convincing. FINISH / CONCLUSION As expected, the Ternary retains its power and its voluminous, aromatic appearance in the aftertaste. If the Ternary remained flawless in the finish, it would be right at the top of my list of laddies tasted over the years. There are no real missing notes in the classic sense, but I can still taste a small downer. At the very end there is an oaky bitterness that I have never had in a smoky Bruichladdich and that reminds me faintly of the Black Art 8, where it is much more dominant. What is the reason? I would guess the old Laddie, because the bitterness is more likely due to the age of the Laddie components, i.e. the comparatively low number of Virgin Oak elements in the project. All in all, a very well crafted malt, created with a lot of expertise, which I like very much with its kind and its concise style, except for the weakness at the back, with a lot of power and depth. More notes and reviews on Facebook at: #Maltkanzlei

Nose: rum and raisin ice cream, maraschino cherries and stem ginger in syrup, asofoetida and nigella, sugared violets and hibiscus, basalt and hashish, silver birch and marrons glace Palate: ashy peat, smoke and persian limes Finish: black cardamom and bergamot oil, damson jam and damp loam, nopales and smoked orange, poppyseed crackers With water Nose: earthier, roasted peaches, membrillo, betelnuts and dark chocolate shavings, kia ora Palate: stewed plums with cinnamon sticks, apricot juice Finish: cloves and teak, geranium water and chilean guavas, nectarine fruit snacks, hint of minerality and heather smoke

Aroma：Pronounced；Palate：89/100; Aftertaste：Med-Long.

This is something very special to take Bruichladdich, Port Charlotte and Octomore blend them together has produced one of the most special whiskys I have ever had I only wish I had more than a sample as I would love to spend time really picking this apart

I thought the Port Charlotte elements stood out on the nose. The flavor profile was sweeter and more syrupy than I expected. Loads of sweet fruits upfront with smoke, peat only arriving on the back end. Overall, the Ternary Project made for a lovely dram, though the price point feels directed more at collectors than consumers. Indeed, the use of old Laddie and Octomore makes this a rare treat, but it was hard to imagine that the premium was worth it. Yes, the flavors were good— the dram is rich and intense— but I would not necessarily recommend this over other Bruichladdich products, especially some of the wine finished or matured Port Charlottes. Mental Image: Farmer Cheese and Grilled Fruit

Original price at ballot: GBP 275

Very successful experimental bottling. Bruichladdich provides the sweet and light part of the dram. Port Charlotte adds smokiness and spices. Octomore brings in strength and does not overcome other flavours.

This is a beautiful, beautiful smoke pipe. Full, slightly spicy, with pronounced dark fruits, tobacco, chocolate.

It’s an interesting combination, a little bit of everything (Laddie, PC and Octomore:) Wine influence is obvious (and I personally love the combination of Bruichladdich’s malts and wine casks!), it’s very well balanced, alcohol is well integrated, it’s one of those beasts like Octomore 2.2 or the FOB Octonomnomnomnomore, which I love so much!

red fruits abound.. smoke, obviously.. but i miss the chiseled, mineral notes of Bruichladdich.. they can be best found in the finale, lingering on the palate for a long time.. oily, bitter and herbal-fragrant.. not bad, just too much wine influence for me..

The sample announced in the introduction, combining 30% Bruichladdich, 40% Port Charlotte and 30% Octomore spirits, is an experimental Bruichladdich The Ternary Project. You can immediately detect smoke, burnt wood, and smoked meat. Tropical fruits, red berries, wine sweetness, and vanilla are expressed, as well as caramel with candies. Green apples, field herbs, and a little varnish paint with cognac rancio are also present. Raisins and dried fruits come to the fore in the taste, followed by red berries and dried meat, black pepper. Many fruit components, among which red orange is most clearly visible. It lingers in the mouth for a long time, leaving a long dried fruit-raisin trail with the sweetness of red berries. This sample is catchy in its own way. On the one hand, the components are familiar individually, but the combination itself is not very similar to anything.

It is of an oily viscosity and its bouquet is of a relatively strong intensity. I have aromas of maritime peat smoke, nuts, bacon, raisin syrup, toffee, oak and subtle vanilla. Relatively complex. Relatively sweet in taste. The alcohol is very well integrated and it has a heavy body.