Bruichladdich Wants You to Try Islay Rye

In Scotland, whisky is made by and large from barley, but a handful of Scottish distillers are dipping their toes into a different grain pool: rye. One of the more high-profile distillers to do so is Bruichladdich, which has just released the U.S.-exclusive The Laddie Rye.

Made from 55% Islay-grown rye and 45% Islay-grown barley, this whisky was aged 7 years in a combination of first-fill bourbon barrels and toasted, not charred, American oak casks—a choice that lets the classic rye notes really shine, according to master blender Adam Hannett. And shine they do—there’s plenty of peppery spice, cinnamon, pickled ginger, and a hint of dill on the nose, and those same notes appear on the palate, though they're tempered by the sweetness of spun sugar, lemon meringue, and vanilla.

The making of The Laddie Rye was partly driven by the fact that rye is an excellent rotational crop, thanks to its regenerative effects on soil. Bruichladdich began growing rye back in 2017, in collaboration with local farmer Andrew Jones, and in 2023, it bottled a pilot rye called The Regeneration Project, which is still available via the distillery's website. But the new release marks its first rye to reach broader distribution.

The Laddie Rye is a limited edition annual release, bottled at 50% ABV and retailing at $60. If you’re a fan of Bruichladdich’s other whiskies, which include Port Charlotte and Octomore single malts, or a rye lover, this one is well worth seeking out.