Bruichladdich X4 - World's Strongest Whisky

The Isle of Islay whisky distillery, the Bruichladdich distilley, is producing 54 American Oak casks of the world's most alcoholic whisky - Bruichladdich X4 Quadrupled whisky. The Scotch whisky distillery have revived the ancient tradition of quadruple-distilling that was used in the 17th century. The X4 single malt whisky, will mature over a ten year period and will have an alcohol content of 92 per cent. Malt whisky usually has an alcohol content of between 40 per cent and 63.5 per cent. Making the Bruichladdich whisky the World's strongest whisky ever produced in the 21 st century.

The first record of quadrupled stilled whisky, known then as "usquebraugh-baul", Gaelic for `perilous whisky` was written about in 1695 by then travel writer Martin Martin when he visited the Western Isle of the Hebrides. His written record, thought to be the world's oldest whisky tasting note, states his following views on the 17th century quadruple distilled whisky - "... the first taste affects all the members of the body: two spoonfuls of this last liquor is a sufficient dose; and if any man should exceed this, it would presently stop his breath, and endanger his life."

The Bruichladdich distillery, Master Distiller, Jim McEwan has tried to replicate the the whisky spirit, in 2008 to be very similar to the spirit sampled by travel writer Martin Martin on Islay in 1695.

Here is an exerpt from Jim McEwans tasting note on the new X4 spirit being currently produced at the Bruichladdich distillery. “The whisky first ran at 92% down to 88% which will make an average of about 90%. It is very similar to the whisky tasted by Martin all those years ago. On entry the flavour is cool, fizzy, citrus - lemon and honey, then the taste of soft gooseberry and pear in syrup evolve as it glides across the palette with cereal and toasted muffins in the slipstream. There is no evidence of the power at this stage because the viscosity is almost like glycerine, however as it engages the taste receptors at the back of the tongue it really hits the booster button and an amazing heat floods deep into the chest. It’s brilliantly fresh and fizzy with an extremely pleasant afterburner effect and leaves an aftertaste that is superb, not long but unforgettable - believe me”. My tasting note was a some what shorter “Wough.

If you would like to order a future case of 6 700ml bottles of Bruicladdich X4 Perilous whisky please visit HERE