Brora 1977 35 Year Old 12th Release bottled 2013
A impactful statement 35 years on!
0 291
Review by @WhiskyAndMe
- Nose23
- Taste23
- Finish22
- Balance23
- Overall91
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This is a whisky that was distilled in 1977, that's even before I was born!! That by itself was enough to get me really excited to taste this expression from the legendary (now silent) Brora Distillery.
Nose: The American and European Oak casks where this spirit resided for 35 long years make a strong impact right at the beginning with lots of woody notes coming through along with some mild peat too. What follows is freshly baked biscuit notes and more of the fresh lime sort of citrus. If ever you had a perfume that smelt like a whisky you'd want it to smell like this Brora. Finally some clove and vanilla that give this nose a touch of spice. What's great about the nose is that it keeps giving out these aromas consistently for quite sometime rather than oxidizing and fading away.
Palate: I assume 49.9% must have been natural cask strength for a whisky which has been maturing for 35 years so its not really a surprise that a sip of this dram brings out a whole load of flavors bursting in your mouth. A very juicy palate with lots of stewed pairs and apples with spiced cloves in the mix. There also citrus and burnt woody notes that come through. And finally there is that mild and yet unmistakable peat that also makes it presence felt.
Finish: As on the nose.. the wood makes a definite impression on the long velvety finish of this one along with iodine and lime in there as well.
Another absolute cracker from Brora.. its a pity though that its so expensive .. making people like me have to be content with a just sample dram of this lovely piece of history.
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Nice. This is my favorite bit: " If ever you had a perfume that smelt like a whisky you'd want it to smell like this Brora." I often wish for whisky- (or peat-) scented cologne.
I've never had a Brora, but it seems to me like the one lost distillery that's really worth lusting over. The others seem have to have pretty decent substitutes, like Caol Ila for Port Ellen. But until they start making some funky farmy stuff at the modern Clynlish, I don't know of a Brora substitute.