Royal Brackla 12 Years Old 2010 (Hart Brothers)

Single malt Royal Brackla, an independent Hart Brothers bottling, a 12 year old release from 2010 and bottled at 55.8%. Founded in 1812 near Nairn, on the Cawdor Estate, Royal Brackla is the King's Own Whisky. It was the first Scotch whisky to hold a royal warrant, renewed by Queen Victoria in 1838.

The spirit was run through lamp glass spirit stills for a clean, fruity spirit, to build a fragrant, orchard fruit character. A refill American oak cask held it, keeping the fruity character to the fore. Past a decade the fruit deepens into honey, dried fruit and a warm spice. A long fermentation of up to 110 hours builds the fruity esters at the heart of the spirit. The distillery was rebuilt and expanded across its long working life. A fruity, lightly spiced make sits at the heart of every bottling. Cawdor Burn water and tall stills shape a clean, elegant spirit. The royal warrant set Brackla apart in the early days of legal whisky.

At 55.8%, undiluted, it is deep and honeyed. A fruity, honeyed elegance meet soft vanilla and honey from the cask. Beneath it run honey, apple and a warm spice. It finishes clean, elegant and fruity. This is an elegant, fruity Highland single malt.