Brora is the stuff of legend, certainly older Brora. This 20 Year Old was bottled by Diageo in their last, often praised and by now almost unaffordable, Rare Malts Selection in 2003.

The nose is surprisingly sweet on white fruit and honey. A nice salty lining with a hint of smoke. The sweet fruit is perfectly balanced by a limited dose of peat. Some austere notes of silver polish, leather and candle was. Camphor and iodine. But there is absolutely no trace of the typical stable scents.

Grand attack, heavily spiced (black pepper) and still perfectly quaffable. Some vanilla and tobacco, but also soft peat and a bit of oak. Peach and pineapple. Not as complex as the nose, but still a party.

The wonderful and long finish is warm, peppery and turns the mouth – which has no trouble displaying a smile all the time – completely dry.

This Brora won the Best Cask Strength Whisky Award in 2004. I am not surprised.

@Pierre_W commented:

Nice review, Mark! I wonder how you managed to get hold of a sample...

@markjedi1 commented:

Traded with friends.

Comment on @markjedi1's review

Nose: very attractive Highlands style, fruity (peach, apple, lemon), a bit perfumed even but slightly austere at the same time. Some smoke and peat but quite subtle and on par with the fruitiness. A few salty notes (sea-air, iodine, oysters). Hints of shoe polish and paraffin. Some leather. Very balanced.

Mouth: malty and spicy, with a firm kick at cask strength and an oily texture. Bittersweet with a touch of vanilla. Lightly peated again. Tobacco and dark chocolate as well (sweeter than other Brora).

Finish: rather long and warm, slightly peppery, drying and smokey.