Highlands region (Brora is now mothballed, used as a visitors center for Clynelish) – 53.2%ABV – £245 – not available in the US – Master of Malt has it here.
Brora has quite a history and is a malt that is very sought after. Serge Valentin (of Whiskyfun! fame), a true Brora devotee, wrote a great piece on the history of Brora here on Connosr.
Connosr, by the way, is a wonderful and vibrant whisky community. If you’re not a part of it yet, sign up here.
It was based on Serge’s passionate recommendation that I looked further into Brora. Thank you Serge!
Thanks to Master of Malt, I was able to choose this as a whisky blogger’s freebee from their Drinks by the Dram selection as long as I posted on it. Thank you Master of Malt!
Ok, enough of the plugs, let’s get to work…
On the nose — Light and soft, yet upfront with notes of peat smoke and a good deal of smoked salt.
Herbal tea – chamomile mostly.
Medicinal – almost reminds me of fresh band-aids.
The peat is ever present here and there’s a peppery prickliness to this.
Even under these peaty & medicine notes I can detect some fruits – banana (peel) & peach skins.
A good deal of vanilla that somehow went undetected until about a minute into nosing this.
On the mouth — Creamy entry followed by fire – very hot stuff!
Hotter than I expected at 53.2%.
Let’s try this again and see if I need to add a wee bit of water…
Apples – fresh ones at that – and etrog (like a lemon, less intense yet much more fragrant).
Very waxy and still medicinal.
The herby/grassy quality I got on the nose carries through here.
“All-sorts” licorice candies.
Honey mustard.
Less smoky on the palate as compared to the nose.
Did I mention this is delicious?
Some dried fruits in there, mostly fig.
Finish — Mint notes appear, some almond & a tad more licorice.
Lingering.
In sum — My first Brora and, I’m in love. The style of this whisky is quite unique. I love the older, more elegant peat in this. This is black tie whisky. I’d love to pair this stuff with some nice chocolates. A treat, through & through!