By Richard Thomas
Score: B+
Royal Brackla 12 Yr Previous
(Credit score: Bacardi)
Introducing a distillery to The Whiskey Reviewer readership is a rarity as of late, so it’s refreshing to tackle job for Royal Brackla. The distillery was began in 1812 by an ex-soldier, Captain William Fraser, on the property of the Earl of Cawdor. Regardless of regularly clashing with native tax officers on whether or not or not he needed to pay for his evaporated spirit (“angel’s share”), Fraser’s whisky managed to garner the eye of King William IV. In 1833, his distillery grew to become the primary to earn a Royal Warrant, successfully changing into the official whisky of the British monarch.
The distillery underwent the vagaries widespread to vintage Scottish distilleries, so it has been shuttered, purchased and offered a number of instances within the two centuries since its basis. Immediately it’s a part of the Dewar’s portfolio, which in flip is owned by Bacardi. The present core line of single malts from Royal Brackla dates again a number of years, nevertheless it was just lately revamped.
The Scotch
I discovered the pour surprisingly darkish for a 12 yr previous malt, however definitely not amber. It’s extra like tarnished gold, had been such a factor doable. The nostril delivers a hefty dollop of malty honey and dry Sherry, tinged with a sliver of dry oak. The flavour builds on that, including vanilla to the honey sweetness, black pepper to that background oaky notice, and nuttiness to the present of Sherry wine.
The end goes farther and reverses expectations, opening with a peppery, woody notice, solely to fade to the wine fruit, honey candy facet. Thoughts you, I discovered this flip to the candy features within the end a faint one, coming solely after the wooden and pepper had been gone, nevertheless it was there and turned the entire closing of the present on its head. For that motive alone, it’s an attention-grabbing standout for a 12 yr previous malt.
The Value
Anticipate to pay about $85 a bottle within the US.
