Whisky Focus - Royal Brackla Single Malt Whisky Range

You will recall last year when John Dewar & Sons launched "The Last Great Malts of Scotland", a range of new expressions, including some never before released single malts from each of John Dewar & Sons five malt whisky distilleries, namely Aberfeldy, Aultmore, Craigellachie, The Deveron and Royal Brackla. Well a little later than expected they have unveiled the new range of whiskies from Royal Brackla.

The new Royal Brackla core range now contains 3 expressions which will all be available from this month initially in 10 selected markets around the world, the new whiskies are Royal Brackla 12 Year Old (Review), Royal Brackla 16 Year Old (Review) and sitting at the top of the range is the Royal Brackla 21 Year Old (Review).

Royal Brackla is a distillery which even the most ardent whisky enthusiasts amongst you will not be very familiar with, there are two reasons for this, firstly like many whisky distilleries most of Royal Brackla's single malt whisky production has traditionally gone into blended whiskies, a few casks have found there way into the hands of independent bottlers over the years but there has been very few official distillery bottlings. Some of you may recall the Royal Brackla 10 year old Flora & Fauna limited release which was bottled by former owners UDV/Diageo but these 3 new whiskies are the first core range expressions to be released by its current owners and the first time us whisky drinkers have had a range of Royal Brackla original distillery bottlings to explore.

The second reason is when John Dewar & Sons bought the distillery from Diageo back in 1998 no maturing stock was included in the deal so it has taken a bit of time for the distillery to be in the position to release a core range of aged expressions which they have enough mature stock to sustain. By my calculations only the new 12 and 16 year old was produced under Dewar's ownership and luckily somehow they have managed to get hold of enough stock to also release a Royal Brackla 21 year old to keep us whisky drinkers entertained.

The distillery was established in 1812 by Captain William Fraser, it stands on the farmland of the Cawdor Estate (a name synonymous with Shakespeare’s Macbeth), the Royal Brackla Distillery really is a picture of Highland serenity.

Just 23 years after opening, in 1833, the distillery received the whisky industry’s earliest royal warrant from King William IV, the first of only three distilleries to earn ‘Royal’ status. Its whisky was confirmed as a favourite of the royal palate when a few years later in 1838 Queen Victoria ascended to the throne and extended the royal warrant.

Captain William Fraser choose to build his distillery on the farmland of the Cawdor Estate to exploit the abundance and quality of the farm’s barley crop. The distillery continues to use top-quality Scottish barley to this day and the same water source of the Cawdor Burn. It also takes its time, fermenting for as much as 80 hours and slowly running its tall stills, their height allowing  plenty of reflux which increases the contact that the spirit shares with copper, thus filtering out unwanted sulphury notes. Instead, delicate and lightly perfumed notes of grass and green foliage develop, alongside inviting fruity aromas. Finally the distillery's pièce de résistance in its process is the use of oloroso sherry casks, which gift the malt a rich, sherried finish.

The new range is appropriately presented in rather regal looking navy blue packaging, the Royal Brackla 12 RRP £45.99, Royal Brackla 16 RRP £84.99 and Royal Brackla 21 RRP £174.99 are all bottled at 40% ABV and will be launched this month in 10 initial markets around the world including Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Russia, Sweden, Taiwan, United Kingdom, United States and Global Travel Retail. To read my review of the three new whiskies follow the links below.

You will find the new Royal Brackla range available form specialists whisky shops such as The Whisky Exchange
 

• Royal Brackla 12 Year Old
   
• Royal Brackla 16 Year Old
   
• Royal Brackla 21 Year Old

• UK Shops
   
• USA Shops
   
• European Shops
  

Whisky Focus