Brora 32 years 10th Release Bottled 2011

Brora distillery was built in 1819 by the Marquis of Stafford, but was known as Clynelish distillery. The distillery kept this name until the opening of the new Clynelish distillery. As two distilleries with the same name is not convenient, nor is it allowed, the old Clynelish distillery was renamed the Brora distillery. Between May 1969 and July 1973, heavily peated whisky was produced at Brora to then be supplied for blended whisky. This was done because there was a shortage of heavily-turfed Islay whisky caused by drought in that region and the closure of Caol Ila distillery. (Large-scale renovation) Most whisky produced as Brora after 1973 has a lighter peat character than the whisky of the years before. In early 1983, production at Brora distillery ceased and the distillery is known as closed distillery.

Origin and bottling

This particular Single Malt from the Brora distillery was bottled in the year 2011. The age on the label indicates 32 years, so with a little calculation, we then know that the distillation of this whisky must have been around the year 1978, 1979. The distillery closed in 1983, but fortunately the owner, Diageo, kept many of the casks and bottled them in the Diageo Special Releases series after prolonged maturation. This is the 10th release and only 1,500 bottles were eventually released.

Cask type

The whisky spent 32 years on a combination of American oak and European oak. The casks used are from the whisky world and have previously held whisky. We are therefore talking about Refill American & European Oak.

Tasting note

Colour

Gold

Nose

The first scent that emerges is chimney. Soot and smouldering wood in the fireplace. Eucalyptus and medicinal scents as we know them from the great Islay whiskies. But this is not an Isaly, this is a Single Malt from the far North of Scotland and that comes through clearly with the briny influences that Brora is also known for. So the smell of caramel sea salt on slightly burnt toast.

Taste

This is Brora!!! Peat, fruit, forest, sea. A BBQ on Brora Beach (do they actually have a beach there) filled with the finest fish freshly caught in the North Sea. You can definitely add some water to your glass. This gives more character, but less power. Personally, we prefer the bottle strength, that's how it impresses us the most.

Overall impression

Serge Valentin gives this Brora 32 years 94 points, we can only agree. This is one of the finest whiskies ever tasted!

Tasting notes Serge Valentin: 94 points (Whiskyfun.com)