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| Hello, that is one in all our (nearly) day by day tastings. Santé! |
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July 29, 2022
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The twentieth Anniversary Periods, right now Brora
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It was unimaginable to not style some Broras to rejoice this wee web site’s twentieth anniversary. With out Brora, it isn’t not possible that Whiskyfun would not even have existed, because it began as a number of pages concerning the well-known small Distillery in Sutherland. We have tried many Broras alongside and over time however there are nonetheless some that we’ve not written any tasting notes for. I discover it additionally humorous that WF would flip 20 precisely within the yr when Brora Distillery would have began ‘burning’ once more. No?
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Brora 1972/1994 (40%, Gordon & MacPhail, Connoisseurs Selection) 
Bottled below the ‘outdated brown map label’, or no matter we used to name these again then. All the opposite 1972s by G&M have been unbelievable, regardless of the meagre ABVs. I additionally keep in mind my first go to in Elgin, when some Director (no names) opened the corporate bar and stated ‘please have no matter you want’. All releases of those Broras had been there and… I nonetheless really feel disgrace. By the way in which, present standings, 72/92: 92/100, 72/93: 93/100, 72/94: let’s have a look at, 72/95: 95/100, 72/96: 90/100, 72/97: 91/100. Color: gold. Nostril: your majesty! It is sumptuously dry whisky, terrifically mineral and earthy, with as a lot coal as peat, camphor, yuzus, Barbour grease, contemporary oil paint and putty, outdated instruments and whatnot. In reality, it is extremely pure and but fats and huge, with that waxy facet that was additionally to be present in neighbours Clynelish (I used to be about to write down daughter of Brora). Mouth: the physique and the power are very spectacular, after nearly thirty years in glass at solely 40% vol. Some type of miracle has occurred right here, however we’re additionally reminded of ‘many’ outdated high-malt-content blends that used to share part of this glorious profile. Beautiful smoke, minerals, metals, earths and small citrus, cough syrups and diverse liquids that do a lot good to you. Strikes on in direction of sweeter bouillons, presumably one thing Japanese. And menthol, umami, miso… Properly it’s simply infinite. I am simply questioning why G&M have by no means bottled a Brora inside their ‘CASK’ vary again then. End: extremely lengthy, and much more magnificent and complicated. What we all the time referred to as ‘doing the peacock’s tail’, with myriads of waxy, salty, mineral and citrusy notes invading everything of your physique whereas we simply surrender and abandon ourselves. Feedback: this indefatigable whisky is a pal. Within the outdated days, we might have quoted actresses, however that is change into completely out of trend, and really rightly so. Immense. An amazing riesling ;-).
SGP:565 – 95 factors. |
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Brora 32 yo 1970/2002 (58.4%, Douglas Laing, Platinum Previous & Uncommon, 297 bottles)
These Seventies are very uncommon, because the outdated Clynelish Distillery had solely began functioning once more round one yr earlier. I’ve to admit I don’t fairly keep in mind this one, even when I’ve already tried it – and didn’t take any notes (boo!) Let’s merely add that Douglas Laing and never the Distillers, in addition to compadres Gordon & MacPhail and Signatory Classic, have been completely instrumental within the constructing of the legend of Brora. With out these three, I am unsure we might nonetheless be speaking about Brora in 2022… (and to a lesser extent, Blackadder, the SMWS, Ian MacLeod or Cadenhead). Color: gentle gold. Nostril: we’re diving right into a bucket of pitch and almond oil, with many crushed zests and menthol cigarettes thrown in (however who would do this). Behind that, fairly some metallic polish and contemporary paint, some hay, beeswax, toolbox and cash, slightly copper and slightly leather-based cream. Unimaginable complexity and but oneness. Every little thing was there already. With water: strictly no modifications. Mouth (neat): full physique and stamina, excellent voltage, luggage of crystallised and dried citrus, some leather-based and tobacco, slightly pine resin, and possibly a necessity for slightly water. It’s nearly slightly brutal! With water: water is each additional opening it and making it slightly narrower. I agree, that is unusual. Citrons and bergamots, much more tight citrus, a ‘greener’ peat and a medicinal facet. End: lengthy and each fats and citrusy. Very candied aftertaste, with additionally mushrooms, pepper and slightly black nougat. Feedback: that they had tried to copy Lagavulin within the very early days, and it’s stated that their high noses could not differentiate them. I do not suppose these batches had been of ‘1972’ degree but, however they had been getting there for positive. Like it, naturally.
SGP:566 – 92 factors. |
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… and a brand new one for good measure…
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Brora 1981/2021 (44.1%, OB, Prima & Ultima Third Launch, American Oak hogshead and European Oak Sherry butt, 393 bottles, 2022)
The house owners say that is the final 1981. If they’ve zillions of 1972s on the facet, I unsure that is a giant deal, based on most different 1981s I might attempt. Oh properly, I do know what I am attempting to say. Color: gold. Nostril: not so quick, S., this positive is not a 1972, nevertheless it’s stuffed with charms and subtleties, akin to wee vegetal oils, then small citrus and tropical fruits that some very well-known outdated peaters from Islay’s south shore could possibly be jealous of. I am particularly considering of Sixties ‘L’, and even ‘B’ on Loch Indaal. Mangos, ardour fruits, grapefruits, petroly riesling, shoe polish, putty, plasticine… All that’s merely working a deal with on the nostril – and like a allure certainly. Mouth: candy Vishnu, this can be the nicest 1981 I’ve tried. Fantastic nutty Turkish delights, stuffed with pistachios, a sense of putty once more, smoked marzipan, bitterer fruits then, oils time and again (sesame), and even slightly butterscotch that might make me consider that some form or good re-racking was finished with this one. Not too positive. End: medium, this time with mints and smoky outdated natural liqueurs. Beautiful citrusy signature, on bergamots and kumquats. Like. Additionally slightly demerara sugar. Feedback: this facet of Brora was extraordinarily charming too, even when these vintages have all the time lived within the shadows of the mighty 1972s. Let’s deal with them proper.
SGP:563 – 92 factors. |
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A final one only for enjoyable. Many moons in the past, I had finished some type of ‘masterclass’ (oh properly, only a tasting session, I am neither Pablo Casals nor Miles Davis thoughts you) in London, across the thought of evaluating Clynelish with Brora (so far as I can recall, it is getting hazy). What I keep in mind is that Diageo had supplied me with some bottle-sized samples of very sherried 1972 from their warehouses, which have been duly tasted throughout that ‘masterclass’, naturally. However I had stored a really wee pattern and I’d say right now is an effective day to down it fast, straight, dry, and straightforward.
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Brora 1972 (cask pattern, sherry, drawn circa 2010?)
Color: have a look at this color! That is nearly espresso. Nostril: within the model of the Brorageddon and, to a lesser extent, to The Whisky Store’s personal 1972. If that rings a bell… Unimaginable mixture of walnut stain, crème de menthe, pipe tobacco and simply liquid tar and liquorice. Hardly ever has thick sherry tangoed this properly with heavy peat. Mouth: very concoctiony, thick, piney and mentholy, quite stuffed with absinth, chartreuse and loopy coffees. End: extraordinarily lengthy, heavy and big. Feedback: I believe I’ve tried all officers and I’d say they by no means bottled this one, not less than not as a single cask. Do they nonetheless have it?
SGP: 376
({photograph} Jon Seaside)
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(Thanks Derek, KC and Nick!)
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 Examine the index of all Brora we have tasted to this point
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