Royal Brackla 25 Years Old

An official Royal Brackla single malt, a 25 year old and bottled at 46%. Royal Brackla was founded in 1812 by Captain William Fraser on the Earl of Cawdor's estate near Nairn, and William IV's 1833 warrant made it the King's Own Whisky. The house style leans on sherry wood, fruity and elegant.

The spirit was made in copper pot stills after a long fermentation, for a fruity, honeyed make of real finesse. Maturation in a sherry cask laid dried fruit over the elegant malt. Beyond seventeen years the malt grows deep and rounded, dried fruit and oak spice over honey. Sherry wood is central to the house style, lending dried fruit and a nutty depth. Few Highland malts wear their history as openly as this one. The spirit was long destined for blends before its single malt revival. Royal Brackla was the first Scotch whisky ever to be granted a royal warrant.

At an approachable 46% it is elegant and balanced. The Pedro Ximenez lends raisin, date and treacle, and vanilla and a light cream from the barrel runs under citrus and a floral lift. It is refined and deep, the fruit and oak well matched. A long, honeyed finish carries a fruity lift. This is an elegant Highland malt of real depth.