Middle-aged Royal Brackla from the indies


September 1, 2023

summer

WF's Summer Duets
Today middle-aged Royal Brackla from the indies

No officials today, rather a recentish Cadenhead and one of those wee octaves from Duncan Taylor's.

Brackla 14 yo 2006/2021 (55%, Duncan Taylor, Octave, cask #9330348, 85 bottles)

This baby got finished for 8 months in one of those reconstructed ex-sherry-oak mini-casks. Colour: straw. Nose: I have the impression that the cask had been 'medicinalised' (what?) but that's only an impression, surely. We do find some kind of lemon soda and chalk, the expected green walnuts, something sherbety, some muesli, lilac, a touch of coconut, blancmange, mouthwash indeed, icy mint… It is pretty unusual but I really like this fresh little baby so far. With water: virtually no changes to the nose. Mouth (neat): some rather heavy oak, with some green tannicity, some oversteeped tea, bitter sawdust, citrus… I find the oak a tad loud but water may help (or destroy it, let's see… With water: it's nicer, more on spicy herbs, bay leaves, a feeling of blackcurrant buds, fresh cabernet (but no vinosity)… Finish: rather long, rather on oak and spices. Blackcurrants are back in the aftertaste. Comments: I find the distillate - oak balance always a bit fragile with these octaves, but here it's really not bad. At all.
SGP:461 - 81 points.

Royal Brackla 15 yo 2006/2022 (57%, Cadenhead, Authentic Collection, bourbon hogshead, 186 bottles)

It appears that while Brackla isn't Royal at Duncan Taylor's, it is at Cadenhead's. Colour: light gold. Nose: this very chalky arrival once more, some baker's yeast, fresh bread, then all kinds of apples and plums, straight from an orchard. This is the right season in Europe (for apples, a little late with the plums). With water: a few mint leaves and more fresh bread, plus some apple peel. Mouth (neat): this creamy fruitiness that some malts by Cadenhead's often display, some limoncello and custard, a little spearmint, some piney oak that's working well, certainly some liquorice wood and ginseng powder… It's pretty oak-forward but I think the greenish barrel was rather of superior quality. With water: excellent fruitiness coming out, with guavas and greengages, more apples, and just this slightly piney oak once more. Finish: long, on the same kinds of flavours. I find the aftertaste a little more difficult, rather oakier for certain (fresh sawdust). Comments: another one that's pretty oak-forward, but the apples' tartness has done its job.
SGP:561 - 84 points.

We'll try to find some Bracklas that would be more spirit-driven next time. Peace.

Check the index of all Royal Brackla we've tasted so far

August 2023

Serge's favourite recent bottling this month:
Speyside Distillery 28 yo 1992/2021 (56.4%, House of MacDuff, Golden Cask, bourbon barrel, cask #CM275, 171 bottles) - WF 91

Serge's favourite older bottling this month:
Banff 17 yo 1976/1994 (60.5%, Cadenhead, Authentic Collection) - WF 91

Serge's favourite bang for your buck this month:
Smoky Scot (46%, Aceo, single malt, bourbon cask, +/-2022) - WF 88

Serge's favourite malternative this month:
Cuban Rum 50 yo 1971/2021 (46.7%, Chapter 7, Cuba, 99 bottles) - WF 93

Serge's thumbs up this month:
None

Serge's Lemon Prize this month:
Bacardi 8 yo 'Reserva Ocho' (40%, OB, Puerto Rico, +/-2022) - WF 20