Royal Brackla 17 Years Old 2006 Cask #1804 (Alistair Walker Whisky Company)

Bottled by Alistair Walker Whisky Company, this Royal Brackla, a 17 year old from 2006, drawn from cask 1804 and bottled at 54.1%. 297 bottles in all. Opened in 1812 in Nairnshire, by Cawdor Castle, Royal Brackla is the King's Own Whisky. Water for the make is drawn from the Cawdor Burn.

Drawn off copper stills with horizontal shell and tube condensers, building the elegant Highland style it is loved for. It was matured in refill ex-Bourbon oak, lending honey and vanilla. At this age it is polished and full, the fruit folded into a rich, spiced body. The slow loss of the angel's share concentrates the honeyed, fruity core over time. Queen Victoria renewed the royal warrant in 1838, confirming its regal standing. The house style leans on sherry wood, building a fruity, dried fruit character. Tall copper stills and a long fermentation give an elegant, fragrant spirit. The distillery lies near Nairn, at the edge of the Highlands above Inverness.

Undiluted at 54.1%, it is layered. Green apple and a fragrant lift sit alongside honeyed oak sweetness underneath. It is clean and elegant, the fragrant spirit shining through. It finishes clean, elegant and fruity. This is a Highland malt with a royal past.