Very finished Royal Brackla


April 10, 2023

Little Duos, today very
finished Royal Brackla

Another name that's been revamped and revived and that should have a future, not just a past n(since there is a new king, wink). We keep trying to taste as many Bracklas as possible, but that's not an easy job. Let's do two.

(Picture geograph.org.uk)

Royal Brackla 12 yo 2010/2022 (50%, High Spirit, Long Valley Selection, 2nd fill Islay Sherry finish, cask #14, 318 bottles)

Not Nadi Fiori's High Spirits, rather a newish line done by the good folks at Langatun Distillery in Switzerland. Not too sure about what 'Islay Sherry' actually means, well we do get the picture, it's true that I've never spotted any Palomino or Pedro Ximenez grapes growing on the Queen of the Hebrides and indeed, that wouldn't be 'sherry' anyway. Colour: pale gold. Nose: second fill is fine. A little mud, hay, walnut skins, porridge, brine, green bananas, fresh mint leaves, tomato leaves (in moderation), kiln… It's fresh! With water: smoke. Mouth (neat): very smoky and, in that sense, totally un-Brackla. A lot of bacon, tar, polishes… It is a blended malt, obviously - at least it is on the palate – but I have to say they did this odd exercise with gusto. Well it's not that odd, many are currently doing this while the SWA keeps looking the other way. Does anybody 'taste' any products at the Scotch Whisky Association? Don't they have a tasting committee? But this makes more sense than, say tequila casks, we agree. With water: unquestionably very good, just not Brackla. Finish: long, salty, smoky. Comments: I think I said what I wanted to say. I find this one despairingly good and am about to hate myself just because of that. I believe I need a new shrink.
SGP:555 - 85 points.

To normality, supposedly…

Royal Brackla 18 yo 'Sherry Cask Finish' (46%, OB, +/-2022)

There must remain a dozen Scottish whiskies that are not finished these days. The exceptions! I'm finding all this pretty depressing, as bottlers would finish whiskies only when they feel they need to, no? At least it used to be like that twenty years ago. This is ex-palo cortado, remember that's basically a fino that went wrong. Kind of, some are superb, but there aren't many and I'm surprised anyone would use them to season new woods for the whisky industry. Colour: gold. Nose: mustard and fresh walnuts plus sea-spray, that's totally palo cortado indeed, well done. In fact, this is a wonderful nose, even if it's another one that's rather un-Brackla in my book. Also green apples, which is more Brackla, we agree. Mouth: very very good, I'm afraid. Superb mustard sauce, walnut wine, cordial and cake, old overripe apples… Finish: long, same, splendidly bitter. Saltier aftertaste. Comments: no wonder no one wanted to keep the wording 'pure malt' a few years ago. But this official Brackla is pretty sublime for sure, it's just that I hate it that I love it. So, would you have a good online shrink to advise me?
SGP:461 - 88 points.

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