Brora 9th Release

Overall rating
91.38/100
votes
346
Whiskybase ID
WB19049
Category
Single Malt
Distillery
Bottler
Distillery Bottling
Bottling serie
Diageo Special Releases 2010
Bottled
2010
Stated Age
30 years old
Casktype
Sherry & Bourbon
Number of bottles
3000
Strength
54.3 % Vol.
Size
700 ml 750 ml
Barcode
5000281027203
Added on
15 nov 2010 6:41 pm
UncoloredNon-chillfilteredCask Strength

Average value

€ 2904.07

82 × in wishlist

346 × member ratings

407 × in collection

Whisky reviews for Brora 9th Release

68 users have left 74 reviews for this whisky. Average rating is 91.38 points.

  1. Albaron scored this whisky 86 points Specialist

    Quite complex, there are a lot of interesting flavors in it, luckily there is almost only liquorice in the nose. The malt is nice, but the heat and the clear alcohol are extremely annoying and prevent a higher rating. I did not expect the old age, so there were probably many 2nd or even 3rd fill barrels. No matter how you twist and turn it, the price is outrageous. It was also not included in the assessment.
    • Nose
      the alcohol tingles in the nose, very sweet, vanilla, grape sugar, spices, liquorice, a lot of malt, citrus oil, a bit musty
    • Taste
      Significant alcohol, strong start and a subliminal heat, sweet, vanilla, cream toffee, a little malt, then a touch of oak and a smaller touch of liquorice
    • Finish
      Sweetness, malt and a touch of oak, plus the heat stays long

  2. Create a free Whiskybase account to read all 74 reviews for this whisky
    Create free account
  3. Yiost scored this whisky 96 points Newbie

    Excellent!

  4. WhiskyRadar scored this whisky 95 points Member Senior

    Incredibly intense resinous aroma of mediterranean pine wood on a summer’s day.
    On the palate marvellously grassy with sweet, sour, bitter and waxy umami notes.
    Try this one if you can!
    • Nose
      94 94
    • Taste
      96 96
    • Finish
      95 95

  5. Zokko scored this whisky 92 points Member Senior

    Great Brora!
    Well balanced, endless aftertaste

  6. Funtik scored this whisky 90 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      91 91
    • Taste
      90 90
    • Finish
      90 90

  7. aborovikov scored this whisky 93 points Member Senior

    23-24-23-23

  8. prz22 scored this whisky 94 points Expert Senior

    Another great Brora.
    Maybe not as complex as 38 yo version but hits all the spots and is extremely enjoyable!!
    • Nose
      93 93
      Sweet honey, wet Stones, flowers, salt, wax, sugar, great!! Maybe too strongly on a sweet side of things ..? Still very good!!
    • Taste
      94 94
      Well balanced, mineral, spicy, herbal, complex... very much to my liking !!!

      Could be even more intense though..
    • Finish
      94 94
      Very long, balanced, sweet, mineral, dry, brora!!

  9. Sergm scored this whisky 92 points Expert Junior

    How can you dislike any of the old Brora's? :) Wonderful whisky even though I liked Brora from Rare Malts series better but still it's by point or two.

  10. Yarema scored this whisky 91 points Expert Senior

    If you don't look at the name, it's a great whisky. But the nose was very poorly developed, again for this age. Otherwise I would drink and drink this whisky ...
    Nose - 22
    Taste - 23
    Finish - 23
    Balance - 23
    Rating - 91

  11. alex..w..fan scored this whisky 88 points Connoisseur

    22 22 22 22 88 - from the opening
    21 23 22 22 88 - finish of the evening

    Everything is the same as always, good, drinkable, tasty, everything is thin,
    but in one evening, as before, it does not open in all its glory, and even 30 years in it, as it felt like it was not and no, IMHO ... the older 30s are remembered, this one, - no, it's a pity ...

  12. olegborgol scored this whisky 93 points Connoisseur

    very good work, a little different than 20ka Rare Malt, but also at a high level of 23.5-23.5-23-23

  13. dr.mad scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    a hard whisky to judge. it's like having two whiskys in your class so maybe you should think of this as the average score :)

  14. JohnGlen1961 scored this whisky 93 points Expert Junior

    • Nose
      92 92
    • Taste
      93 93
    • Finish
      93 93

  15. Coldorak scored this whisky 95 points Expert Senior

    Notes taken from my blog:
    https://moredramslessdram.com/2020/03/24/brora-9th-release-30yo-review/

    Absolutely incredible dram. The nose always lets you discover new scents each time you come back, the gourmet palate is hot and chocolatey with an incredible mouthfeel, the finish… never does, and it swims very well, toning down the hotness to let you discover more things. Fantastic dram. When tasting a unicorn whisky, especially for the first time, you can fear that the hype will take over and that you have to love this whisky, for what it’s named and not what it is. But here (sorry, no other way around it), What. A. F*cking. Great. Dram. Definitely one of the best whiskies I’ve ever tasted. I know it was only the 500th so it’s not that much. Nonetheless one of the best ever. What a way to celebrate this milestone. And to continue with distinguished language, the hype train was running full speed and it didn’t disappoint.
    • Nose
      The nose starts on polish and orange, with some sherry notes, lychee, caramel and some peat smoke. Over time more layers appear, letting me distinguish soot, spices and some more peat smoke. Then a few moments later, more wood polish, and back to sherry notes with dried red fruits, a very, very slight hint of sulphur but absolutely not a nuisance. And a pinch of pepper. Water brings out apricot, more oranges and vanilla.
    • Taste
      The arrival is hot and pepperish, and the mouthfeel is waxy and thick. Strong notes of citrus and bitterness from dark chocolate, caramel, lots of dark chocolate again, loads and loads. And loads. Did I mention dark chocolate? Bitter oak too, a bit of peat but not that much, and a pinch of salt. The palate is bitter and sweet and spicy, quite hot, the spices bite never stops. What a ride. Slight hints of vanilla but hard to find, you need to squint from the tongue.
      With reduction, the arrival is way sweeter but still with some spices and bitterness with green apples, and the mouthfeel gets even creamier. You may almost chew it. And with more time again, the peat is brought a wee bit forward, just perfect.
    • Finish
      Some nuttiness accompanied with oak and dark chocolate again. Veeeery long and slightly drying. After reduction, the finish provides loads of dark chocolate again, toned down pepper, and hints of smoke. It stills never ends.

  16. daverdaz scored this whisky 97 points Expert Senior

    High End Heavily peated Brora!!!

  17. Tom na Gruagaich scored this whisky 95 points Connoisseur

    Exciting, idiosyncratic, great, if not for all days. More exciting, because orgiastic (like Port Ellen).
    • Nose
      one of the most unusual noses I've ever had. Much oak, some peat smoke, more in the soot corner, spices, herbaceous and a little perfumed. Lavender? Intensive and idiosyncratic.
    • Taste
      Strong, sweet-sourish, herbaceous, some oak, some fruit and some peat.
    • Finish
      Menthol, the bitterness of the oak, peat and a subtle sweetness creep around, which after some time also something in the direction of broccoli goes

  18. DenisLeonov scored this whisky 94 points Connoisseur

    Balance (23) Wonderful Mute (94)
    • Nose
      Orange ... exotic fruit salad ... polish ... warm board ... spices ... raw peanuts ... grass ... honey candle ... peat ... vanilla sponge cake ... the aroma is constantly unfolding. .. insanely bright .... iodine ... with water: prunes in chocolate ... wet cardboard ... smoldering apple tart ... wet animal and medicine (24)
    • Taste
      The taste is first round and soft, then dry, fruit ... salt and iodine ... spices and tobacco ... chocolate dust ... cream ... (24)
    • Finish
      Finish is long ... spices are replaced by a crumbled tablet ... lemon peel and mineral water (glade kvasovo) ... tree ... charcoal ... wet ash ... salt ... wax ... burnt match (23)

  19. FritzeKrautman scored this whisky 90 points Connoisseur

    The complexity is significantly increased by the smoke, especially since the sweetness and fruitiness are still there.
    • Nose
      Sweetish starting, then smoky (smoked bacon). Maritime, salty and spicy aromas follow. Vanilla is clearly perceptible and later pale light fruits emerge. Strong, cooling alcohol in the nose.
    • Taste
      Same order as in the nose with first sweetness at the beginning and then getting saltier. The vanilla is also present and it follows the smoke, but not particularly strong. The alcohol is strong and becomes increasingly hot and peppery. The bright fruits can also be guessed
    • Finish
      everything ends in a long and wonderful finish with oak and nuttiness. In the mouth remains a pleasant creamy feeling.

  20. pianoman scored this whisky 90 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      Restrained, filigree. Remote campfire smoke, liquid beeswax. Orange peel, physalis, tangerine quark, a little vanilla. Bright cake dough. Moist sea salt.
    • Taste
      Oily, slightly salty. Bright fruits with honey, some wax, garden herbs. Mild pepper, charred wood. Unpeeled almonds, white chocolate mousse, some oak spice. Medium.

  21. LiquidThoughts scored this whisky 92 points Connoisseur

    A really great Brora, which surprises with its strong sweetness and thus has a stark contrast to the dehydrating notes, sounds wonderful, if not for every day.
    • Nose
      Compared to the 2009er (8th release) significantly more apricot and light fruit, lychees, peach drops, with time then great deep malt notes, fresh, a little wet hay, a touch of green apple is just as well, but honey melon and apricot remain always the main notes , the Brora Heiderauch can only be heard very far back, will also mineral with the time, fresh dew in the morning, a little brown sugar, glazed red apple now flash, behind the toffee and malt wall
    • Taste
      Very strong but not like the 8th release, here much more glazed sweet apricots, extremely much sugar, surprisingly despite the light fruity nose, Lychees front, very strong light honey, lots of brown sugar crystals, then comes slowly and lends the heath meadow in the game, fresh Toast bread, a lot of heat, some smoldering campfire, light, dirty malt, hard oak chips, fruit pits, cotton candy, oregano and thyme dominate the herbs, so rather the very dry
    • Finish
      Very dry-malty and smoky with it, campfire extinguished and still glowing, brown sugar, oregano, strong oak flavors, already too dry and hard

  22. Mannix65 scored this whisky 93 points Connoisseur

    Salt, blossom honey, some grass, maritime, salted Bluna - "Lutschwhisky"

  23. z-imaging scored this whisky 91 points Connoisseur

    Sampled from freshly opened bottle. Initial impression was for very sweet and fruity modern like Clynelish with just a hint of peat. Then after a lot of time and some water the real Brora style started to shine and gets closer to 2009 release
    • Nose
      Light peat, fruity, hint of grassy notes
    • Taste
      More fruits just like modern Clynelish. Hint of peat. With water and after a lot of time - more and more peat, salty with grassy notes and less fruity
    • Finish
      Long, salt, smoke, still slightly grassy

  24. spigray scored this whisky 92 points Connoisseur

    kept the price rating relatively high to keep the average rating at 92/100
    • Nose
      92 92
    • Taste
      93 93
    • Finish
      94 94

  25. spigray scored this whisky 92 points Connoisseur

    a huge whisky, full of character but of course never worth the price they´re charging.
    92/100
    • Nose
      wax and a fine thread of smoke. slightly farmy.
      the fruitiness is hard to explain, maybe slightly tropical. ther than that there´s oil, putty, earth, fern. slightly coastal, too. reminds me of very good taliskers.
    • Taste
      mighty attack, very complex but incredibly fresh.
      quite peaty, some salt. the farmy notes are completely gone. dry with bitter oranges. leather, tobacco. also a little grassy with flowers and herbs.
    • Finish
      long, grassy-floral, waxy

  26. WhiskyLovingPianist scored this whisky 91 points Connoisseur

    https://whiskylovingpianist.wordpress.com/2017/08/10/an-epic-day-drummuir-castle/

    As we shuffling into the dinning room, our designated driver passes me his unfinished Brora 30 - i did say this was an epic day!

    C: Ive had this 9th release three times before so felt a license to focus on the bigger picture today. Also hungry & zoning out/in as per usual [low blood-sugar level], i muse over how Brora, especially, serendipitously mastered the knack of combining the basic whisky elements [barley, peat, water etc,..], and transcending those constituent parts to create a whole array of exotic complex push-me pull-me flavours that in turn lead to an emotional, poetic and often ethereal experience - even from a brandy balloon! Regardless, the nose is nigh-on perfect. It finishes with a long clean hum after a very fine journey. Aside from those near out-of-body experiences, Brora is equally [sublimely] simple stuff [its only whisky right?], with a mouthfeel you simply cant get enough of. The nose & mouthfeel alone stop me in my tracks.Scores an A[-]

  27. Cubey666 scored this whisky 92 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      93 93
    • Taste
      91 91
    • Finish
      93 93

  28. Calmar scored this whisky 94 points Connoisseur

    Brora, what else to say - great all - kaleidoscopic, super deep fragrance over and over again bringing to the surface new derivatives and their combinations; taste - a combination of age density and complexity with sparkling cheerfulness and cheerfulness; Finish - infinitely dying, but not extinguishing, even he is self-sufficient, he does not call for the next sip, he seems to say - I am an ideal end, any mole after me - just vanity of vanities and wind catching, and even one more dram of the same nectar will give you anything above, but we will still do it, is not it?
    • Nose
      Open, dry, mineral notes - dry, sun-heated boulders, mineral water with juice, grindstone; light shades of sulfur and bleach; lemon zest, moist skin, vitamins Revit, apple-carrot juice, lime, animal fat, wax, water-repellent composition for shoes, stone dust, frostbitten orange, floral-herbal tones, shoe cream.
    • Taste
      Tight, fresh, mineral-lemon, wax, lemon peel, lemonade, lime, lemon and orange candied fruits, pomelo, sweets, tropical fruits - papaya, mango;
    • Finish
      Wrapping, oily wax, spicy, lemon rind, lime, a little lemon pepper, limoncello, soft oak, light bitterness of young bark, metallic sour, vanilla, very long.

  29. martinni scored this whisky 90 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      85 85
    • Taste
      94 94
    • Finish
      93 93

  30. Andytka3 scored this whisky 84 points Connoisseur

    Nose:- Wave of refine rooty smoke with black tea fragrant, orchestrate with soft malt sweetness and spices earthiness. Some musky note after breath.

    Palate:- Mellow but firm, milky palate, silky. Dried fruit and toasted cereal cling on the fruity wood smoke. Lovely balance and chewy.

    Finish:- Medium-long, subtle. A bit lacking but with refine smoke lingers.

    — at The Whisky Bar, Kuala Lumpur.

  31. Hvdree scored this whisky 91 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      91 91
    • Taste
      92 92
    • Finish
      92 92

  32. squaadgras scored this whisky 90 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      92 92
    • Taste
      91 91
    • Finish
      90 90

  33. MikerG2k scored this whisky 90 points Connoisseur

    Nose: what a sweetness, banana, vanilla, little grassy
    Taste: creamy, oily and sweet
    Finish: barley, little bit of wood, more vanilla, a little maritime
    • Nose
      90 90
    • Taste
      91 91
    • Finish
      91 91

  34. BXpress scored this whisky 91 points Expert Senior

    sample.

    i tasted this after the Oban 32 and i have to say i find it a little more civilized than the Oban, despite the more obvious peat. but the quality of both Whiskies is on the same level.
    • Nose
      machine oil/engine oil, a big bold note of grated green apples that have been sitting there for a few hours. wax? maybe. a little salty too. more on honey and vanilla now. barley, and faintly foresty. maybe even a little maritime.
    • Taste
      extremely creamy, soft but very much alive. more peat intensity now, leaning towards Islay peatiness. honey, pepper, grassy, now more Highlandish. earthy, not many farmy notes to my dismay, but you can't have it all. also notes of creme Brulee-old bourbon cask maturartion with vanilla and marzipan notes.
    • Finish
      medium to long, ashy, earthy peaty, vanilla. now finally some hay in the aftertaste with a little citrus.

  35. Sandman scored this whisky 93 points Connoisseur

    Very nicely balanced and complex whisky. Dad thanks for the sample.
    • Nose
      Lemon, honey, hints of peat, chocolate, toffee, ginger, tobacco, cotton candy, pineapple, raisins, bit of paint thinner, cinnamon, fruitcake, hint of peach and lime.
    • Taste
      Toffee, nuts, greasy, coffee, oak, pineapple, chocolate, light smoky, cotton candy, barley, lemon, candied cherries, peach and citrus peel
    • Finish
      Long, dry, salt, vanilla, fresh fruit, citrus, little oak and a hint of smoke.

  36. dram-drinker scored this whisky 93 points Photo Moderator

    Citrus, honey and very little peat on the nose. On the palate more smoke, peat and a beautiful sweetness. The finish is long and hot. This is so fresh and powerful. Great whisky!

  37. Black Widow did not rate this whisky Expert Senior

    This Whisky was sold for 815,-€ at Whiskyauction 11/2015

  38. Black Widow did not rate this whisky Expert Senior

    This Whisky was sold for 795,-€, 800,-€ and for 805,-€  at Whiskyauction 10/2015

  39. WhiskyLovingPianist scored this whisky 91 points Connoisseur

    The ‘Gone but not forgotten’ masterclass led by Colin Dunn at the Whisky Exchange show 2015 presented six drams, each from a lost distillery. They were: Glenesk ’69; Millburn ’75; St Magdalene ’78; Brora 9th release; Convalmore ’77 and lastly a Glenury ’70.

    N: Im getting to know this release rather well. Today its oily sweet and a little less heathery and meaty as the St Magdalene. Its so so good.

    T: Im simply hits the spot. Its huge, but not like the St magdalene boom, this has a far broader depth.

    F: …, and its in the finish that the action really happens. If the palate serves to change up the gears, here we are now in cruise mode, stretching out endlessly on an open road to total satisfactionville.

    C: For me, this Brora is perfect, arguably without the befuddling complexities of it's piers. With this whisky im simply in the place i want to be.

    Scores an A+

  40. lincolnimp scored this whisky 88 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      91 91
    • Taste
      87 87
    • Finish
      85 85

  41. recursiewhisky scored this whisky 96 points Expert Senior

    Color :
    Straw yellow. Smell :
    A sweet, savory, delicate, round, layered, balanced and complex whisky with notes of fudge, wood, nuts, malt, dusty, peat, lime grass, toffee, bastard, ginger, ginger syrup, star anise, cumin, mustard, marjoram, hint to varnish, hint of antique wax, wild flowers, chocolate, sweet tobacco, marzipan, honey, vanilla, orange, cinnamon, grass, earthy notes, cloves, lemon peel, leather, beeswax, olive oil, dried apricots and much more! Taste :
    A lively, rich, fresh, sweet, layered, balanced and complex whisky with notes of toffee, barley malt, nuts, hazelnut, butter, leather, grapefruit peel, dried pineapple, roasted coffee beans, sherry, prunes, lime peel, peat, soft medicinal smoke , candied ginger, linseed oil, beeswax, vanilla, sweet tobacco, peach, salty, general tones, earthy notes, butterscotch, chocolate, dark caramel, brioche, rich butter, mandarin, fresh lemon and much more Finish :
    A very long, slightly drying and slightly salty aftertaste with notes of first malt, rich fruits, soft smoke, peat, earthy notes, soft oak, brine, green olives, vanilla, leather, hint to mint and tobacco. Conclusion :
    What a wonderful whisky! This whisky has so much in it, it reminds one moment of the sweet smells of an old-fashioned candy store, then a florist and then an antique tobacco shop. This is for me the first Brora I tasted him and hopefully it is certainly not the last. Rating :
    96/100
    http://www.worldwhisky.nl/recision-301-brora-30-year-2010-edition/

  42. lincolnimp scored this whisky 88 points Connoisseur

    WITH A DASH OF WATER:

    NOSE - The water really opens this up, typical briney Brora now, melon, smoked ham, sea water, fudge

    PALATE - very briney , toffee & caramel

    FINISH - medium long, appetising.

    This is a very good whisky, no doubt about it, but not one of the better ones from the Brora annual releases. The 2006 and in particular the the 2007 are more complex than this one. I was suprised at how drinkable this was with water at 54.3%.
    • Nose
      Notes from October 2014.
      restrained, cocoa, salt water, cherry, apple, cola cubes, a little smoke. 
    • Taste
      sweet, liqourice, fudge, smoked meat.
    • Finish
      long, a little hot.

  43. pilgrim77 scored this whisky 90 points Expert Senior

    Incredibly complex nose that really opened up with a drop of water. Waxy and oily, with faint hints of peat and farmy notes too. Also ginger ale, honey, snuffed candle smoke, vanilla, citrus fruits, old leather and cinnamon. Great stuff! Not quite as complex on the palate, however, with salty and peppery aspects keeping much of the subtler notes in the background (the soft, creamy honey and candied citrus fruit elements are particularly welcome). Medium-length finish with a touch of bitter dryness the only disappointment. The awesome nose certainly lives up to the hype, but the palate and finish couldn't quite reach the same level.

  44. Shane_IL scored this whisky 95 points Expert Senior

    Wow! Clynelish on steroids. 
    • Nose
      Candied pineapple. Beeswax. Wild flowers. Dark chocolate. Olive oil. Brine. Toasted wood. Light smoke. Vanilla ice cream. Roasted nuts. Fudge (British not American). Cloves. Fresh. Ginger. Bit of lemon zest. Polished wood. Old leather. Treated thatch. Rich buttery note with water, the nutty notes also become more prominent. 
    • Taste
      Leather furniture. Waxed brown paper. Rich wood. Brown sugar. Butterscotch. Toasted hazelnuts. Light rich peat note present in the background, becomes more prominent with water. 
    • Finish
      Long. Dark woody notes. Roasted nuts. Good leather. Cigar smoke. Floral notes in the background. 

  45. Dede scored this whisky 91 points Expert Senior

    A nice nose, complex, with a lot of citrus, peat, iodine, some farm notes (but we are far from the triptych 2004/2005/2006), a floral side too.

    The palate is powerful, with a more assertive peat, more oily and medicinal too, a lot of licorice / gentian, always citrus, and this sea side. The alcohol is pretty well integrated but I found it better with a little water.

    The finish is long, peaty, with a beautiful bitterness. Bu in pleasure mode last night. It's very good, but not the level of the best Brora 30yo.

  46. Cast Olila scored this whisky 91 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      93 93
    • Taste
      92 92
    • Finish
      92 92

  47. Jeep51 scored this whisky 89 points Expert Senior

    Friendly. Mouth very powerful but mastered. I was expecting a little more
    • Nose
      Pretty sharp, well lemony and slightly mineral. It is chiseled, marine, iodized. There are also very slight farm notes that gain in power at aeration, but they are only secondary and less precise than in the first releases. Some vegetal and floral touches too. Nice but far from stunning.
    • Taste
      Very powerful. Beautiful peat licorice, very fresh. Peppermint. Chilli pepper, white pepper, salt and some medicinal notes. Without compromise.
    • Finish
      It is long and powerful with pepper very present and also the flowers / soap that are less to my taste.

  48. Kantenmechaniker scored this whisky 88 points Connoisseur

    These notes were made during a blind tasting!
    • Nose
      nutty, light smoke definitely present, smoked bacon ?, spicy, woody and again vanilla combined with floral notes, with water it is much sweeter with caramel and vanilla
    • Taste
      wow, directly massive salivation, fruity, even here light smoke, with water can be more lure out, spice, sweet with vanilla, hardly oak
    • Finish
      longer than the other two, more oak and drier, with water comes out again a hint of bacon, spicy and again the flower meadow

  49. Gearmailteach scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    Very pleasant. I especially like the finish.
    • Nose
      Smoke. Pleasant, unobtrusive smoke as from a campfire a little bit further away. Licorice, seaweed, sea breeze with some iodine and salt, at the same time sweet with hints of red fruit, vanilla, pear and apple. Also floral notes are available. Spices, some tobacco in the background. With water: much more fruity and floral. Bright, ripe fruit and vanilla. The maritime notes get into the background.
    • Taste
      Oily and heavy, while sweet. Sea air with salt, iodine. Seaweed, liquorice, dark chocolate. Oak spice and orange peel. Again some tobacco. With water: slightly watery on the tongue. Vanilla and licorice. More oak, espresso, liquorice, less fruit and chocolate.
    • Finish
      Long, "dark". Liquorice, salt, oak, some orange.

  50. GuyIncognito scored this whisky 88 points Expert Senior

    Tasted blind
    • Nose
      Floral aromas and minimal smoky (dry smoke, not phenolic), honey and vanilla, strawberry, mirabelle, cointreau, a touch of gingerbread
    • Taste
      Noticeable alcoholic, blossom honey, strawberry, mint / herbs, with a few drops of water, the herbal notes become clearer
    • Finish
      Pleasant bitterness, caramel, vanilla sugar (real), overripe drupes

  51. Gloin scored this whisky 90 points Expert Senior

    a complicated whisky that interweaves many flavors without one dominating the other. This makes the whisky very exciting, but also a bit out of focus in the profile. The whisky is great, but there is something that bothers me without me naming it. I'm looking for anything in the whisky without knowing what it is and can not find it.
    blind tasting
    • Nose
      complex, light smoke, a touch of sherry, vanilla, caramel, slightly maritime, not very fruity, a hint of sour cherries
    • Taste
      soft onset, then getting stronger, sweet and spicy, caramelized oranges, oak, salt, and again hints of sour cherries
    • Finish
      spicy oak, light smoke, sea breeze, becoming bitter with a memory of salt, quite long

  52. Bishlouk scored this whisky 92 points Connoisseur

    Nose: Caramelized peat, honey, fruit syrup. Dried flowers. Palate: Very round, pear syrup. Slight smoke. Final: Just as sweet on the fruit syrup. Pepper and iodine. Very slight smoke. Verdict: Also a hybrid between Clynelish and Brora, but more on Brora's side this time around. (note made as part of a F2F of all official Brora 30 years)

  53. KayMeertens scored this whisky 91 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      Beeswax, apricot, orange, caramel, lime, whipped cream and lychee. Very intense.
    • Taste
      Beeswax, orange, caramel, lime, apple, apricot, limestone, spice and a little smoke.
    • Finish
      Beeswax, apricot, orange, apple, whipped cream, caramel, lime and spice.

  54. Toffie76 scored this whisky 92 points Expert Senior

    ... pfiouuuuuu!
    • Nose
      The nose seems as restrained, discreet. Even if we feel that behind, there are people. - (Aeration) -. Wow, it becomes interesting. Smoke, wood, straw, hay, peat. Difficult to describe, it is complex and ultra melted. A touch of organic / medicinal solvent, olive oil, iodine, salt. We feel the wood, too. As a backdrop, wet boards, yeast. Laurel, clove. The fruity is not left with scents of orangettes, marmalade. A zest here and there. Black tea too infused.
    • Taste
      The beast is released. Clearly above the nose, the mouth explodes everything. Aggressive and complex, peat is much more pronounced. A truly forceful deployment. The development is lively and fast, the finish is much more looooooong.
    • Finish
      On peat and smoke. And the woods are just beautiful. We will keep a dry and elegant bitterness for several minutes. Nutmeg and salt too.

  55. mikespike scored this whisky 91 points Expert Junior

    A massively complex highland malt. Deserves respect. It is not easy to find a comparable malt anywhere..

  56. WhiskyLovingPianist scored this whisky 91 points Connoisseur

    'One of the best'

    N: Its alive! Floral, woody, oily, fennel/nutmeg freshness, and thats the abridged version

    T: Monster rich body - sweet/sour/bitter perfection, woody, oily with a near perfect peat accompaniment, wonderful levels/balance.

    F: Everything aforementioned lingers. Saline notes and ash at the death, but the finish is there only to serve the extraordinary palate, arrival and development

    C: 54.3% volume and absolutely no water required. This feels new and alive and yet it never over exerts itself or is in danger of becoming too boisterous. Talisker 57 is vibrant and alive but this is on an all together different scale. Brora 30 - Huge with a ‘brand new’ feeling. One of the best.

    N: Sweet and oily, nuts and minerals - not so citric sweet as the 25yo WB and definitely more refined. Mild peat provides an old mouldy cheese and double [not clotted] creaminess, The peat is subtle but profound.

    Scores an A+

    A revisit, Oct 2014

    T: Sweet, salty, peaty, silky, honey malt with citrus building. This has a similar profile to the 25yo but its far more refined. The arrival and development aren’t the most profound and It gets hot, but add a little water and you’ll get a a perfect textured mouthful that surpasses the 25.

    F: Wonderful saline notes [almost Port Ellen like] with botanicals [hints of rosemary and thyme] seeping deep into the palate.

    C: Really excellent, for me a model Brora.

    Scores an A+

  57. thijs100 scored this whisky 93 points Connoisseur

    There are some wonderful aromas and flavors in this Brora. All very complex and satisfying. But the best thing about it is the unbelievable balance between the sherry and ex-bourbon casks used for this vatting. A great job selecting casks for this beauty.
    • Nose
      Immediately a plethora of aromas reveal themselves. Citrus, apples, wax, caramel, honey. Especially the citrus is wonderful. And a very subtle hint of peat is always in the background. Although it mellows out after a while, dissappearing almost completely. Farm notes are also present in the form of dried grass. It also has a nutty and malty quality. Some spices appear: nutmeg and cloves. This is one of the best balanced noses I've ever had the pleasure of smelling.
    • Taste
      A very salty and coastal start. The palate also has more peat than the nose suggests, but remains very subtle and is not overpowering at all. Minerals. And then the sherry influence surfaces with honeyed rice waffles, grapes and a dry mouthfeel. Next up are pepper, mint, artichoke, white fruit. The oily and waxy quality of this Brora is great.
    • Finish
      Malty, peat, honey. Also ash, tobacco, leather and mint. An endless, medium-dry finish.

  58. zby0001 scored this whisky 92 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      93 93
    • Taste
      92 92
    • Finish
      92 92

  59. Hare&Copper scored this whisky 93 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      Intense. Waxy, oily. Lovely floral/dried herb notes. Salty/coastal - fishing nets, ropes. Puffs of smoke. Walnuts and almonds. River stones. Greengages. Some polished wood.
    • Taste
      Fruitier than the nose but still quite austere. White fruits, light honey, wax, salt and lemon. Kippery. Underlying peat and wood smoke that is accentuated with water. 
    • Finish
      Long. Smoky, salty.

  60. lolo did not rate this whisky Member Senior

    sweet and almost sweet
    • Nose
      sweet, oily
    • Taste
      round with honey, beeswax, sweet violet this manifest discreetly, farmhouse notes so special and difficult to describe, very timid smoke in the end of the mouth, again very beautiful complexity
    • Finish
      long, evolves on the same profile as the mouth

  61. Toemi scored this whisky 92 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      91 91
    • Taste
      92 92
    • Finish
      92 92

  62. MB28 scored this whisky 89 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      88 88
    • Taste
      90 90
    • Finish
      91 91

  63. Marcallan 45 y.o. scored this whisky 94 points Member Junior

    • Nose
      94 94
    • Taste
      92 92
    • Finish
      96 96

  64. ASWhisky scored this whisky 92 points Connoisseur

    a very exciting whisky when drinking, which really has character, is mean and yet has rough edges, I associate with the keys as a total reminder: new sauna with fresh wood fragrance, warm custard with soft cherries and flowering herb garden in late summer yes! I'm in heaven
    • Nose
      soft, ripe cherry, vanilla pudding, borage flowers, eagle owl
    • Taste
      slightly bitter oak, herbs and grasses, young apricots, fruit and vanilla, peat and smoke
    • Finish
      Medium, slightly bitter, salt, oak, meditonsin, then brine liquorice pleasant and soft, at the end bitter birch bark and salt

  65. cavalier66 scored this whisky 92 points Expert Senior

    93/100 from Ralfy

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ij5U0ke9TCs

  66. granella2003 scored this whisky 92 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      92 92
    • Taste
      92 92
    • Finish
      92 92

  67. granella2003 scored this whisky 92 points Connoisseur

    This amazing whisky is among the scent of a fruit shop, a tobacconist and a florist. Important notes of orange and berries, waves of peat and a final round and long, spicy and smoky

  68. whiskas scored this whisky 91 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      Beeswax, aceton, butter, seeweed, apple, orange, lemon, hay, almond.
    • Taste
      Thick and oily. Lemon, brine, beeswax, cinnamon, ginger, almonds.
    • Finish
      Long spicy salty finish. A bit oaky.

  69. Malt Hans scored this whisky 92 points Connoisseur

    Fruity

    and spicy aroma, ripe melon, banana, lime, vanilla, ginger, nutmeg,

    mint and pear. Marzipan sweet taste, pepper, cinnamon, eucalyptus,

    olives, peatsmoke, butterscotch and vanilla. Long, peaty, spicy and

    fruity end.

  70. d1scostu scored this whisky 93 points Connoisseur

    nose: little smoke, sweets, vanilla, salty / maritime, the smoke becomes more pronounced in the meantime and then flattens again, despite 54.3% no strong / distracting alcohol smell, lemon, marzipan, fruits, very balanced and complex, brilliant!
    water seems to push the smoke even more, the fruits get into the background

    taste: first sweet, then smoke, very oily, salty, warming, tingling on the tongue

    finish: even after 30 years, the smoke is clearly present, but never disturbing, long-lasting, goes deep and in the nose,
    With water, the sweet comes out a little more

    Bottle No. 686
    • Nose
      96 96
    • Taste
      91 91
    • Finish
      94 94

  71. Drochaid scored this whisky 92 points Connoisseur

    This release of Diageo`s revered Brora 30yo is one of the greats. Gorgeous fruit, with much less emphasis on smoke & peat this time.

  72. tamriel scored this whisky 92 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      91 91
    • Taste
      92 92
    • Finish
      92 92

  73. Feusi scored this whisky 90 points Connoisseur

    Maybe not the "best" release? But it is pure Brora...
    • Nose
      Peaty and maritime, sweet with a wonderful and complex smoke.
    • Taste
      Surprisingly sweet with a delicate peaty smoke.
    • Finish
      The finish is long, rather sweet and smooth, spicy and smoky.

  74. PierreDH scored this whisky 92 points Expert Junior

    Sample 6cl. The farmer's side and a slightly more expressive fruity have disappeared to make way for a nice roundness of praline. Gourmand.
    • Nose
      Powerful, very fragrant. I have fruity first. Apple especially. Then dry peat but it remains subtle, dark chocolate, coffee beans. A little wax. Wood glue but still it's pleasant, heady. Stealthy vanilla. Very complex.
    • Taste
      Smoked chocolate, sweet, warm, round.
    • Finish
      More and more round even. A superb intensity too. Very long on vanilla, mocha and hazelnut chips.

  75. GLEN MAUR scored this whisky 92 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      91 91
    • Taste
      92 92
    • Finish
      93 93

Tastingtags

Add tasting tags by clicking the flavours you recognized in this whisky.

Whiskybase

Whiskybase is founded in 2007 with the goal to create the biggest resource of whisky information in the world. A community driven website built by and for whisky enthusiasts.  




Whiskybase B.V. 
Zwaanshals 530 
3035 KS Rotterdam 
The Netherlands 

KVK: 60207205
VAT: NL853809112B01

Copyright © 2023


Forgot your password?

Login