Brora 21 years Old Malt Cask is great and it’s easy to see why Brora has gained a cult-like following over the years and is among the most sought after whiskies in the world. What’s now called Brora actually started life as Clynelish, but after the new Clynelish (a larger scale replica) was opened across the street Brora was closed. It would be re-opened, and that’s when it’s name would be changed to Brora, but after only a few years of operation it would be closed for the final time.
Brora Timeline (via Malt Madness)
1819 – Founded as Clynelish by the Marquess of Stafford
1912 – Acquired by the Clynelish Distillery Co. Ltd.
1925 – Sold to DCL
1931 – Closed
1939 – Opened, but then closed again due to WW2
1945 – Re-opened
1961 – Received an upgrade from coal heated stills to steam
1965 – Steam engine and water wheel replaced by electricity. Floor maltings used for the last time
1966 – Boiler converted from coal to oil
1968 – Closed due to the opening of Clynelish 2 across the street
1969 – Reopened due to a drought on Islay causing a decrease in peated whisky. Renamed to Brora
1969 – Stated producing heavily peated whisky for SMD/DCL’s blends like Johnnie Walker
1973 – Peat levels started decreasing year over year
1983 – Closed for the last time
1989 – First bottling of Brora Single Malt done by the Scotch Malt Whisky Society
2002 – Diageo launches a line of 30 yr old official bottlings
2008 – Diageo replaces the 30 yr old line with a 25 yr old
Brora 21 years Old Malt Cask Info
Region: Highland, Scotland
Distiller: Brora (1819 – 1983)
Mashbill: 100% Malted barley
Cask: ex-Sherry cask
Age: 21 years (1981 – 2002)
ABV: 50%
Non-Chill Filtered | Natural Color
Price: NA – Auction / private sale
Brora 21 years Old Malt Cask Review
EYE
Light caramel
NOSE
There is an overall toasted quality to the nose that works well with the warm peat and ripe tropical notes. Hints of red licorice, wood, earth, char and malt mix in the background with a bit of a flinty sulfery pop – like when you first strike a match.
PALATE
A heady mix of rich tropical and dark fruits mixing with some medicinal and peaty notes. Light bits of earth, vanilla and grassy malt supply additional facets to this wonderfully complex flavor.
FINISH
A bit weak and short, but what’s there is smoky, malty, and woody with some nice bits of vanilla and fruit that show up here and there. It’s nice, but definitely the weakest part of the whisky.
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Excellent balance with everything working in harmony and sitting atop a rich round body with a silken texture.
OVERALL
Ok I get it. I see why people loose their minds over Brora. This Brora 21 years Old Malt Cask is a rich, complex and subtle bottle of peated whisky that doesn’t show up too often these days. It has a unique character all it’s own with the peat and the fruit working with, and playing off, of each other. This balance starts at the elegant nose continues to the rich palate and through the short finish. It’s a very nice whisky indeed.
SCORE: 90-92/100 (Range due to a single glass & not tasting at home)
