A multi-dimensional, astonishing and complex malt; a timeless masterpiece…
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Nestled on the North East coast of Scotland, Brora is an iconic malt distillery with an avid cult following. Its reputation as a truly special Single Malt Scotch is born out of its consistent quality, as revealed through a uniquely rich and peaty flavour profile that has enthralled whisky lovers for generations. Scarcity is another of its defining qualities, having endured on-off status through most of the twentieth century. After the initial post-War boom Brora closed its doors, not reopening until 1969. In 1983 the stills fell silent again, becoming a dormant ‘ghost’ distillery once more. Time has shown though that this period saw a new thirst for experimental production, using heavily peated barley from the surrounding Northern Highland hills. While most was blended away at the time, the remaining Brora casks from this period are highly sought after as they have aged exceptionally well.
Brora 40-Year-Old 49.2%
Distilled 1978
£4,500 (including UK Duty & Tax)
The Age of Peat offers a glimpse of Brora’s past - a golden age of distilling. A fine, elegant old coastal malt with rich fruit sweetness and compelling smokiness, held in perfect balance with a vigour remarkable for its age.
Clear amber in colour with fine long beading and good viscosity. On the nose there is a slight prickle at first, then sweet, smoky-peat wafts of treacle toffee, smoke with iodine. Rich, sweet fruit. Ripe figs. Raisins. Fire and brimstone. With water, hessian sacking, fine tweed, notes of the warehouse; all lightly harmonious, with elements of land, sea and sky. The body is medium and smooth. On the palate, there is an exquisitely smooth, lightly waxy texture and a powerful, rich, darkly sweet, savoury then finally smoky taste, with great balance, length and persistence. Richly winey and fruity throughout, with dried figs and dates. Spiciness and growing smoky warmth; white pepper. Best straight but also deliciously drinkable with a dash of water, which adds to the sweetness and brings up a minty note; suggesting mint imperials, whilst dialling back the darker character. All this is still underpinned by a smokiness that is also held more in check but still very much present. The finish is long, rich and sweetly warming, with more white pepper, subsiding to leave a lightly smoky aftertaste. With water, much sweeter and more mint-cool, and at the very end lightly drying.
For two hundred years, the timeless artistry at Brora has been protected and passed on by The Keepers of Brora: craftsmen & custodians who have nurtured its spirit through decades of adversity, closure and quiet. The 200th Anniversary bottling marks the release of one of the most acclaimed liquids in the world, with only 1,819 bottles available globally.
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The Whisky
Encased in a deep burgundy velvet display case, the bottle is adorned with the Brora emblem of the elusive Scottish Wild Cat–crest of the distillery’s founder, the Duke of Sutherland. This is the first release direct from Brora since the 2017 Special Releases.
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Brora, 1978, 40 Year Old, Highland |
£4,500 inc Duty and VAT |
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About Brora
Founded in 1819 as Clynelish by the Marquess of Stafford, soon Duke of Sutherland and it cost just £750 to build. This would barely buy half a bottle today! One of Scotland's earliest purpose-built malt whisky distilleries, it was first leased to James Harper, then Andrew Ross and George Lawson – all of whom were local men. It was then sold in 1896 to Leith blenders, Ainslie & Co. Harper’s weekly described it in 1896 as "a singularly valuable property. The make has always obtained the highest price of any single Scotch whisky". It was rebuilt and had steam power introduced in 1897. The old distillery re-opened in 1969 to produce a heavily peated “Islay style” malt for blending during a shortage under the name Brora. It finally closed again in 1983 and the stills fell silent. As a large framed whisky, perfectly suited to long ageing in cask; only very small stocks now remain.