Brora distillery, initially generally known as Clynelish, was closed in 1967 after the brand new (present) Clynelish was constructed next-door. Nonetheless, as a consequence of a scarcity of peated whisky, the unique distillery was re-opened in 1969 and assumed the identify Brora. Bottlings of the whisky it produced between then and its second closure in 1983 at the moment are more and more wanted. Brora was first bottled as a single malt in 1989 (SMWS 61.1) and the primary official Brora bottlings appeared in 1995 (1972 Uncommon Malts).
A brand new chapter is within the making as Brora was re-opened in Could 2021 and is producing single malt once more.
Final yr, in instances of lockdowns and Zoom tastings, Whisky Auctioneer organized a once-in-a-lifetime masterclass Brora: A Misplaced Treasure led by Serge Valentin and Angus MacRaild. It had an epic line-up, it was restricted to 25 areas and turned out to be one of many highlights of Corona instances for me. In some way I didn’t get round to posting my tasting notes, till now.
Clynelish 12 yo (70 Proof, Ainslie and Heilbron, early Seventies, 26 ⅔ Fl.Ozs, UK market)
Nostril: clean when it comes to alcohol, however in any other case comparatively assertive. Extra ashy notes than anticipated, in addition to shoe polish. Mineral oils, lamp oil, waxes and moist stonesl. Dried grass. Some fruity sweetness within the background. Caramelized almond, orange peels and wee hints of pineapple. Refined mashy notes, the extent OBE is noticeable.
Mouth: oily texture and outperforming its ABV once more. We get a natural facet that’s each candy and slightly austere, delicate medicinal notes and spice (nutmeg, pepper). Very gentle metallic notes. Additionally a obscure sweetness within the background, perhaps candy apple and lemon.
End: not too lengthy, with the waxy notes, faint mint and natural notes staying sturdy.
An exquisite previous fashion, additional finetuned by OBE I’d say. There are definitely higher variations of this whisky (usually a little bit of a guess when opening a bottle), however as an aperitif to this session it’s already attention-grabbing.
Brora 1972 (40%, Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseurs Alternative, new map label, 1997)
Nostril: cow stables. Goat cheese, horse dung and soiled hay. So nice – you solely actually get this degree of farmy notes in Brora. Then some mentholated hints, some walnuts and minerals. Moist hay. Coal soot. It turns into ever extra accessible over time, with a obscure waxy sweetness, vanilla pods and paraffin. Clearly not very assertive however advanced and distinctive nonetheless.
Mouth: properly peaty and far more sooty now. Smoky medicins, some salted notes and iodine. Walnuts, hints of smoked lemons and roasted almonds. Olive oil. Getting slightly sharper and mineral in direction of the tip, with a touch of chilli and liquorice.
End: medium size, fairly delicate, with some salty peat, mineral notes and a contact of caramel sweetness.
A fancy Brora that completely defines the distinctive character of this distillery. It has been some time since I skilled these typical farmy notes. It might be missing a little bit of punch however because of the fragrant profile I’ll nonetheless give it a really excessive rating.
Rating: 92/100
Subsequent up, a Douglas Laing bottling. We’ve had beautiful Broras from this bottler, however this one is from the decrease priced Provenance vary bottled at 46%.
Brora 26 yo 1976 (46%, Douglas Laing McGibbon’s Provenance 2002, Winter Distillation, cask #742)
Nostril: slightly citrusy now, waxy with a number of natural freshness and a bitter edge. Some reduce yellow apples. It reveals little peat, or at the least a thinner, extra flinty fashion than the 2 earlier than. Moist chalk too. Through the masterclass analogies had been made to Talisker and certainly this may not be recognized as Brora straight away.
Mouth: nonetheless this agency natural facet with an sudden sourness. There’s *virtually* a fruitiness however not fairly. Inexperienced apple and lemon. Hints of white pepper and moist wool. Leafy notes, chalk and walnuts. The peat is of a rubbery variety.
End: good size, with peppery notes, grassy sharpness, extra wool and lemons.
This can be a sharper, slightly unusual fashion of Brora that’s nearer to Banff or Glen Mhor, albeit with a smoky Talisker trace certainly. Attention-grabbing whisky, for positive, however extra academic than downright spectacular.
Rating: 90/100
Brora 21 yo 1977 (56,90%, OB Uncommon Malts 1998)
Nostril: the actually waxy and coastal fashion now, with extra seashells and iodine than earlier than. Moist canine, moist cardboard, hints of leafs in a forest after the rain. Natural peat, positively much less smoky than the 1972 however definitely peated! Shoe polish and antiseptics. A really intense mineral fashion, not farmy however completely chiselled.
Mouth: very full. Nice sharp peat, combined with natural teas and grasses. Numerous coastal notes like oysters and brine – two drops of Springbank? Peppery notes, delicate wax and a touch of tobacco. Loads of lemon (peels) too. A little bit of woody sweetness ultimately, definitely with water. Very balanced regardless of the excessive ABV.
End: lengthy, sharp and clear. Loads of medicinal and coastal notes.
A very vertical tackle Brora, deeply coastal and mineral, typical for the late Seventies. Humorous how they urged so as to add two elements of water to at least one half whisky on the again label. How appreciation of cask energy whisky has modified!
Rating: 93/100
The session ended with a Brora 30 12 months Previous, in reality the primary on this legendary collection. Verify my evaluation of the Brora 30 Years 2004 launch as an example.
Brora 30 12 months Previous (52,4%, OB Particular Launch 2002, 3000 btl.)
Nostril: complexity is skyrocketing now. Farmy peat once more, muddy and dungy. Pepper and loads of mentholated notes. Candy grassy notes and curry spice. Some tiger balm. Coal ashes beneath. There’s additionally a buttery observe, candy almonds and a touch of vanilla pods. That is Brora alright.
Mouth: very wealthy, oily and really forthcoming, with candy peat, a lot hotter once more than the 1976 and 1977. Numerous heat ashes. Liquorice and tea, each natural tea and Lapsang Souchong (Lagavulin fashion). A bit of ginger, grapefruit and lemon peel. Menthol, black peppercorns and mint. Hints of dried fruits too, there should have been some quantity of sherry in right here, or so I’d suppose.
End: very lengthy, stilly oily with the natural notes turned up a notch, together with a mild bitter observe. Warming smoke and salted walnuts because it dies out.
So sure, that is close to excellent Brora. A number of punchy peat, spicy notes, but in addition sweetness and class. Perhaps not as farmy as among the 1972 vintages, however an important multi-layered drop in any case. A becoming finale to an important masterclass.
Rating: 94/100
