52,4°
Distillery : Brora - Highlands
Bourbon Casks
Original Bottling
Limited Edition
Single Malt
Bottled in 2002
Unchillfiltered, Cask Strength
Peated around 45 ppm
In 2002, Brora did not enjoy a great reputation. The distillery had closed 19 years earlier and had been replaced by its neighbour Clynelish. Whisky lovers were not crazy about it. It was at this time that Diageo included this 30-year-old cask strength in its Special Releases. I don't know the exact price, but it was less than £100. The maturation is not indicated, but it is almost certainly a simple bourbon cask. Only 3,000 copies were produced. And nothing happened. Or very little, because it would take a few more years for people to realise just how good this thing is. Today, the price is astronomical, and it's one of the holy grails of whisky, one of those drams you dream of trying all your life.
Let's Taste It :
Once again, it starts with a strong whiff of camphor and ether. Then the fruits fall into place. Blood orange, dried banana, lemon pulp. The woodland hints of hay, tall grass in an abandoned field. Sunshine, slight minerality. Light peat mist. Dry earth. Fresh honey, beeswax. Beautiful balance overall. Salt crystals. Delicious on the palate, rosewater, liquid honey, squeezed orange. A hint of olive oil, spices that elbow each other, cumin, white pepper, nutmeg, ginger. Pistachio Loukoum. Slightly woody. Varnish, encaustic. Crushed almonds, confirmed in the finish, with rhubarb. Extremely long, this finish, it makes you see the country. Unleavened bread, butter biscuit, very crispy. Hazelnuts, sesame seeds. Chocolate pear.
In Short,
I agree that it's good. There's a nice balance between the farmhouse character and the great gourmet, candy-like flavours. On the one hand it's very fruity, on the other it's camphorated and even astringent. The peat remains light, which is normal for a 30-year-old. In any case, it's very original. The finish is magnificent, and tasty on the palate. However, I'm not sure I fully appreciated the nose, perhaps I missed something. This is what prevented me from putting this whisky in my personal top 10. It's still exceptional and I'd obviously be delighted to consider buying a bottle if one day I inherit Jeff Bezos' fortune.
Score : 92
To Be Listened While Sipping :
Madness - The Liberty of Norton Folgate
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