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Brora
 scrapes in
 decent
 good
 excellent
 sublime
Brora, 25-year-old (Diageo Special Releases) (Scotland) 
Brora 25-year-old is the latest of seven annual, vintage releases from the silent distillery that stands alongside Diageo’s modern Clynelish plant in Sutherland. While the previous six have been 30-year-olds, this is a 25-year-old expression, and has been matured in American oak and European oak refill casks.
The nose is mellow and profound, pleasingly fragrant, with citrus fruit, caramel and Sherry. Medium-bodied and waxy in the mouth, with smoky, nutty vanilla notes. Dilution sweetens the palate. Medium in length, steadily drying to somewhat bitter oakiness, with bonfire smoke and liquorice.
56.3% ABV, 70cl, £179.95, specialist whisky merchants. |  |
Brora, 30-year-old (Special Releases 2009) (Scotland)
Single malt from the East Sutherland distillery of Brora, which closed in 1983, has gained a cult status, and the latest ‘house’ expression is this 2009 Special Release. Matured in refill American casks, it presents a classy and mature nose, with heather, oil, brine, pepper and mildly medicinal characteristics. Citrus fruit, oak, coffee and spice on the palate, with significant peatiness developing. The finish is lengthy and drying, with smoke and nuts.
(2,958 bottles)
53.2% ABV, 70cl, £230.00, specialist whisky merchants. |  |
Brora, 30-Year-Old Special Release (Scotland)
Part of Diageo's 2005 'Special Release' series, this is an outstanding whisky from the Sutherland distillery which stands beside the modern Clynelish plant. It operated between 1819 and 1983. Fresh cut peats on the nose, smoky malt, warm plasticine and iodine. Water releases fresher, fruitier notes. Initially quite dry on the palate, briefly sherbety, then Latakia tobacco. Oily, with a hint of antiseptic. Very long and warming in the peaty, briny finish. A real stayer, this could win a Grand National if it was a racehorse. Magnificent. 3,000 bottles. 56.3% ABV, 70cl, £175.00, specialist whisky merchants.  |  |
Brora, 30-Year-Old Special Release (Scotland)
This 2006 release of Brora 30-Year-old is part of Diageo’s annual batch of Special Releases. It has been matured in a mixture of refill ex-Sherry and American oak casks, and initially offers fresh pine on the nose, followed by mild maritime notes, brine and wood polish. Water produces fresh fruits and something altogether smokier. A big, slightly oily mouth feel, dry, confident and profound, with plenty of peat smoke. The long finish is drying and slightly peppery, with the final impressions being of liquorice and smoke. This much mourned malt holds its age magnificently. Such a shame the Brora stills have been sold to China! 2,130 bottles. 55.7% ABV, 70cl, £175.00, specialist whisky merchants.  |  |
Brora, 32 Year Old (Diageo Special Releases 2011) (Scotland)
This is the 10th bottling of the lost Sutherland classic in Diageo’s limited edition annual releases programme, and certainly lives up to the very high reputation of its predecessors. The component whiskies of Diageo’s oldest ever bottling of Brora have been matured in a mix of American oak and refill European oak casks.
The nose offers brine, a squeeze of lemon, black pepper, pine cones and wood smoke. Beautifully matured, rich and sumptuous on the palate, with apple pie and stem ginger. The finish is medium in length, with a sprinkling of pepper and fading soft smoke. (1,500 bottles)
54.7% ABV, 70cl, £300.00, specialist whisky merchants. |  |
Brora, Diageo Special Releases 2010 (Scotland)
Brora single malt, from the silent distillery adjacent to Clynelish in Sutherland, has long been a favourite of the Special Releases line up, and this year’s offering has been matured for 30 years in a mixture of ex-Bourbon and ex-Sherry refill casks.
Mellow and warming on the nose, with prunes and a whiff of graphite. Developing wood smoke with time, and orchard fruits. Very drinkable at cask strength. Peat, pineapple, peach and fudgy malt mesh beautifully on the rounded, confident palate. Ginger and cough lozenges when water is added. The finish is lengthy, with malt and toffee giving way to slightly briny smoke at the last.
(2,958 bottles).
54.3% ABV, 70cl, £280.00, specialist whisky merchants. |  |
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