Royal Brackla 12yo Sherry Cask Finish

Royal Brackla 12yo Sherry Cask Finish

Official bottling 
Single malt - Speyside 
Amber, hints of gold
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, cocoa nibs, sour cream, cinnamon, black pepper, milk chocolate. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, cool, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Malted grains, milk chocolate, black pepper, vanilla, cream, cocoa nibs, hints of orange peel. 
Finish: Short. Milk chocolate, vanilla, cream, cocoa nibs, black tea. 

Comments: 

I tried the old 12yo, the new one is at a higher ABV, at 46%. It’s sweeter and more chocolatey, as you’d expect a sherry cask finished malt to be. Lots of vanilla and cream notes too, almost as if there was a little grain whisky in it.

Verdict:

I like this.

Royal Brackla 9yo 2013/2023

Royal Brackla 9yo 2013/2023

James Eadie
Single malt - Speyside
Pale gold

46% ABV

Dram

Nose: Yoghurt, lemon sweets, raspberries, peaches, apricots, honey, hints of white grapes. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, slippery, cool, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Lemon sweets, apricots, coffee, nutmeg, green tea, malted grains, hints of cinder toffee. 
Finish: Short. Nutmeg, cinder toffee, malted grains, yoghurt. 

Comments: 

Casks 1596, 302353 and 302355. Quite tart and citrusy, but also with a slightly caramelised smoky edge. Bright and refreshing, and characteristic of youngish whisky.

Verdict:

I like this.

Royal Brackla 9yo 2012/2021

Royal Brackla 9yo 2012/2021

Rebels - Guerrilla Casks, Brave New Spirits
Single malt - Speyside 
Pale gold
55.9% ABV
Tiny taste

Nose: Yoghurt, peaches, toast, milk chocolate, greengages, hints of damson jam. With water, yoghurt, peaches, damson jam, lemon zest. 

Mouthfeel: Light body, hot, tingly, astringent. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Peaches, toast, honey, cloves, greengages, nutmeg, cinnamon, lemon zest. With water, malted grains, damson jam, peaches, hints of honey. 
Finish: Short. Malted grains, nutmeg, cinnamon, peaches, hints of black tea. 

Comments: 

Cask 493, Banyuls Barrique. Really surprising stuff, redolent of peaches, toast and honey. It’s sweet and luscious, and the high ABV makes it quite light and volatile too. Huge amounts of spice as well. All in all, quite excellent. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Royal Brackla 14yo 2007/2021 Christmas Edition

Royal Brackla 14yo 2007/2021 Christmas Edition

Single Cask, Berry Brothers & Rudd
Single malt - Speyside 
Dark gold
50.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Orange peel, grapefruit, lemon zest, white grapes, marzipan, hints of pineapples. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, slippery, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Cream, orange peel, barley sugar, white grapes, vanilla, hints of white pepper. 
Finish: Medium. Vanilla, lemon zest, marzipan, white grapes, hints of caramel. 

Comments: 

Cask 03086. Not very Christmassy! But I suppose it doesn’t have to be. It’s fruity alright, but there’s a spicy edge to this as well as a tanginess reminiscent of white grapes. Pleasant nonetheless. 

Verdict:

I like this.

Royal Brackla 19yo 1991/2011

Royal Brackla 19yo 1991/2011

Connoisseur's Choice, Gordon & Macphail
Single malt - Speyside
Dark gold
46% ABV
Sampler

Nose: Cola nuts, raisins, malted grains, cloves, cream, hints of orange peel. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, tingly, syrupy, sticky. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Vanilla cream, orange peel, raisins, winter melon, sponge cake, hints of fresh baked bread. 
Finish: Medium. Vanilla cream, black tea, orange peel, winter melon. 

Comments: 

A nice gentle Royal Brackla, spicy, at a very nice strength. Lots of fruit notes, and baked goods notes, as well a very nice mouthfeel indeed, almost luxurious. Somehow, whisky doesn't come like this anymore.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Royal Brackla 16yo

Royal Brackla 16yo

Official bottling
Single malt - Speyside
Dark gold
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Fresh baked bread, orange peel, honeydew melon, overripe peaches, lemon squash. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens slightly, slippery, slightly airy. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Orange peel, malted grains, black tea, lemon zest, vanilla sponge, hints of lemon curd. 
Finish: Short. Chocolate, orange peel, overripe peaches, black tea. 

Comments: 

Warm, fresh and fruity, lots and lots of citrus and stone fruit. It's subtle, and you need to work a bit to get to the flavours underneath, but it's all worth it.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 55.38 (Royal Brackla 15yo 2000/2016)

SMWS 55.38 (Royal Brackla 15yo 2000/2016)

2016, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
Buttercups
58.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peanuts, oranges, pears, peaches, hints of marzipan. With water, lemon zest, more marzipan, vanilla. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, slippery, watery, static. 
Tasting:  Sour bitter. Pears, peaches, almonds, peanuts, hints of oatmeal. With water, lemon zest, almonds, hints of goji berry. 
Finish: Medium. Peaches, lemon zest, white grapes, peanuts. 

Comments: 

A little odd. There's loads of sweetness and fruit on the undiluted nose, but it fades to a tart, cereally bitterness on the tongue. Nice estery notes on the finish, but it was a bit disappointing after that mouthfeel and mouth flavour.

Verdict:

Not bad.

Royal Brackla 12yo

Royal Brackla 12yo

Official bottling
Single malt - Speyside
Golden
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cream, raisins, malted grains, yoghurt, orange peel. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, turns watery, loosens, light. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Yoghurt, honey, lohan fruit, raisins, apples, hints of black tea. 
Finish: Medium. Black tea, lohan fruit, honey, apples. 

Comments: 

Matured in first fill Oloroso sherry casks, but not very sherried. It's in fact, lactic rather than fruity, with sour yoghurty notes that are subtle rather than assertive. Interesting fruit notes, it's lohan fruit rather than something more well-known.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 55.33 (Royal Brackla 17 yo 1997/2015)

SMWS 55.33 (Royal Brackla 17 yo 1997/2015)

2015, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
Golden yellow
56.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Pears, honey, lemon zest, honeycomb biscuits, hints of peaches. With water, carbolic soap, orange juice, hints of mangoes. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, tingly, turns slightly watery. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Pears, chillies, honeycomb biscuits, mint, hints of golden syrup. With water, cream, peaches, mangoes, hints of papayas. 
Finish: Medium. Toast, pears, peaches, mint. 

Comments: 

Plenty of fruit and honey neat, but once water is added, a faint tang of carbolic soap, allied with a slight creaminess come in. The whisky opens up beautifully, with lots of orange juice and mangoes coming to the fore.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 55.29 (Royal Brackla 14 yo 2000/2015)

SMWS 55.29 (Royal Brackla 14 yo 2000/2015)

2015, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
Golden
56.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Oranges, lemons, grapefruit, eucalyptus, fresh cut grass, hints of strawberries. With water, ink, grapefruit, hints of pears. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens slightly, chewy, chunky. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Lemons, vanilla, orange peel, fresh cut grass, hints of ginseng, hints of grapefruit. With water, salty, sea salt, grapefruit, hints of leather. 
Finish: Medium. Eucalyptus, grapefruit, ginseng. 

Comments: 

Sweet and fruity neat, turns all sorts but sweet upon the addition of water. Chameleon whisky. Still, the bitter citrus notes of grapefruit and herby notes of eucalyptus are ever present. Good stuff, this.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 55.24 (Royal Brackla 20 yo 1994/2015)

SMWS 55.24 (Royal Brackla 20 yo 1994/2015)

2015, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
Brass
52.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Vanilla, freshly baked bread, cherries, marzipan, honey, hints of white grapes. With water, peaches, strawberries, hints of papaya.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, syrupy, thickens, slightly oily.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Vanilla, honey, cherries, shortcrust pastry, peaches, hints of toast. With water, slightly bitter, toast, white grapes, strawberries.
Finish: Short. Honey, marzipan, brown butter, peaches.

Comments:

Run of the mill. Or it would be, but for some interesting flavour notes. First of all, there's cherry. Then there's something buttery, toasty and slightly burnt, especially once a little water is added. It lifts this whisky above the average.

Verdict:

I like this.

Royal Brackla 25 yo 1974/2000

Royal Brackla 25 yo 1974/2000

Connoisseur's Choice, Gordon & Macphail
Single malt - Speyside
Golden
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peat, lemons, limes, guava, tamarind, hints of smoke.
Mouthfeel: Light body, turns watery, smooth, loosens.
Tasting: Salty sour. Peat, brown paper, limes, guava, tamarind, hints of smoke.
Finish: Short. Salty, peat, lemons, guava.

Comments:

Tart and refreshing, with the tang of the sea mixed in with refreshing tropical fruits. Something of a cross between whisky and a rum daiquiri. Would be excellent on ice.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 55.18 (Royal Brackla 9 yo 1998/2008)

SMWS 55.18 (Royal Brackla 9 yo 1998/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
White wine
61.0% ABV
Dram

Nose: Milk, butter, cream soda, lemons, yoghurt, oranges, hints of butter, hints of shallots. With water, butter cookies, hints of marzipan.
Mouthfeel: Light body, static, volatile, slightly watery around the edges.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Cookie dough, vanilla, butter, shallots, oranges, yoghurt, lemons, hints of cream soda, hints of grilled meat. With water, butter cookies, hints of marzipan.
Finish: Medium. Vanilla, yoghurt, orange peel.

Comments:

Pleasantly fruity, with elaborate dairy notes (yoghurt is particularly unusual), but the hints of shallots let it down. I associate the shallots with the bitterness in the taste. Not bad, but not great either.

Verdict:

Not bad.

Royal Brackla 27 yo 1976/2004 Scott's Selection

Royal Brackla 27 yo 1976/2004 Scott's Selection

Scott's Selection, Speyside Distiller's Company
Single malt - Speyside
Golden
65.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Sherry, peat, iodine, honey, Crunchy Nut cornflakes, orange peel, hints of ammonia.
Mouthfeel: Light body, warm, slightly syrupy, astringent.
Tasting: Sweet. Cayenne pepper, toast, mint, peat, butter, plums, magic marker, hints of banana chips.
Finish: Long. Peanuts, lime juice, salted lime pickle.

Comments:

This is hard to drink given the strength, yet water just brings out huge hits of magic marker and pear. I much prefer it at the original strength. The mouthfeel is something else - hard-hittingly, painfully astringent, like eating too much raw pineapple. My tongue hurt for nearly an hour after drinking this, sweet and fruity though it was. The trade-off is the interesting, very lengthy finish of lime juice and lime pickle, just like having a meal at my favourite South Indian restaurant.

Verdict:

I like this.