57,9°
Distillery : Royal Brackla - Highlands
1st Fill American Oak Sherry Butt
Independent Bottling
By Signatory Vintage
Limited Edition
Single Cask
Bottled in 2025
Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength
Totally Unpeated
The Symington's Choice series adds further prestige to the Cask Strength Collection range, which has been around for decades. Here we have a 16-year-old Royal Brackla aged in a 1st Fill Sherry Butt, made from American oak, which is unusual. 671 bottles were distributed. It appears that there are three different casks of Royal Brackla distilled and bottled in the same year at Signatory, all three of which have undergone the same maturation process, so they should not be confused. This one is sold by La Maison du Whisky, among others, so it is the one I tasted. However, I am not sure there is much difference between the three.
Let's Taste It :
Honey and vanilla, dried fruit, dates, raisins, apricots, figs, damp leather, lemon cake, apple tart, still-warm wax, yellow peaches, a whisper of mango, crushed nuts, cinnamon, even saffron. On the palate, it is fresher, with more wood, a touch of menthol, oily leaves, various fruits, slightly candied, more honey, intense spices. Long and powerful finish, still warm embers, fried bacon, red fruits, bread dough, apple compote, more cinnamon, roasted hazelnuts.
In Short,
The sherry is perfectly balanced, and the American oak adds a mellow flavour full of walnuts and hazelnuts. It is very pleasant to drink and very well made, but perhaps lacks a little character and personality. The price is very attractive, which means it is sold out almost everywhere, but you can still find it if you look hard enough.
Score : 89
To Be Listened While Sipping :
The Slow Readers Club - Boy So Blue
