A Germanic little trio of new Braeval


May 20, 2025

A Germanic little trio of new Braeval

One of those distilleries that’s rarely talked about, but which we make a point of tasting as often as possible – for the glory, indeed, but also because they can be excellent. And Braeval handles wine well; its kind of profile doesn’t clash as often as others in my view.

Braeval 10 yo 2014/2025 (65.4%, Alambic Classique, Bordeaux red wine barrel, cask #25012, 266 bottles)

The invasion of red Bordeaux casks continues in Scotland. Colour: gold with a faint orangey hue. Nose: the wine is immediate, as are the wood spices and the high-dose ethanol. With water: we head into cherry cake territory, clafoutis, stone fruit spirit with a touch of soap… We’re drifting a little into the land of old plum eau-de-vie from a rough still. We’re quite far from malt here, but it’s by no means unpleasant. Mouth (neat): it’s all right, though the strawberry yoghurt spiced with pepper and kirsch is rather overwhelming. With water: back come the ‘trans’ notes—peppery, stony, with fruit tree leaves and a faint hint of shampoo... Finish: very long, salty and peppery, very much eau-de-vie aged in wood. Comments: more of an adventure than a malt, really. I do think we could create a special category for these transgenre/premix malts. We don’t dislike them, actually.
SGP:471 - 80 points.

Braeval 16 yo 2009/2025 (50.9%, The Whisky Agency, tawny Port barrique, 280 bottles)

Are we heading in the same direction? It’s not Bordeaux, but it’s still a red wine cask... Colour: partridge eye, or onion skin. Nose: Port on very classic, fairly neutral malts can work nicely—as seen here, this nose isn’t nearly as alarming as the colour might have suggested. Notes of strawberry cake, watermelon syrup… and young Port, quite simply. With water: the malt wakes up a little—bread dough, brown ale... Mouth (neat): clearly more vinous. Cherry, pepper, blood orange, cherry stalks, rosehip… With water: pink pepper, soapy touches, kirsch, trail mix. Finish: long, fairly vinous and peppery. A little touch of rancio. Comments: this little winesky also goes down very nicely. As far as red wine cask malts go, it’s well done.
SGP:561 - 80 points.

Careful, the next one’s going to shake things up…

Braes of Glenlivet 30 yo 1994/2024 (48.9%, Maltbarn, ‘The 26’, bourbon cask, 51 bottles)

Beginner 101: Braeval and Braes of Glenlivet are the same distillery. Colour: gold. Nose: almost shy after the winey ones, with whispers of mint and anise, fennel, dill, celery stalks—all set on a bed of chalk and brioche dough sprinkled with shards of pear and orange sweets. Ite Missa est. Mouth: very consistent with the nose, just a bit more on the sweets and the grist, baker’s yeast, scones and muffins. A lovely green tea note in the background, the whole continuing to display a rather charming fragility. Finish: medium length, more malty, with a touch of bitterness, and even a hint of cherry stem herbal tea. Comments: let’s admit it—we knew this would be a dead cert.
SGP:451 - 88 points.

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