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Review - Royal Brackla 12: 𝑺𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒅 𝑻𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒆

Category: #SingleMalt

Distillery: #RoyalBrackla

Region: #Highland

Age: 12 years old

Cask: Oloroso Sherry Finish

ABV: 46%

Nose: Maltesers, Cranberries, Fig Newton, spicy and juicy oak, molasses, tobacco, rum raisin

Palate: Dark chocolate molasses chips, date syrup, cooked stawberry and fig, cinnamon, white pepper

Finish: Over-reduced, sticky forest fruit jam, dry Sherry oak tannins, candied ginger and chili flakes, minor bitter herbs.

Notes: This now goes into the exclusive club reserved for entry level distillery bottlings that nail it.

Other notable members include Craigellachie 13, Benromach 10 and Ledaig 10.

Side note: When I say "entry level", I mean in relation to the other OBs, rather than "for beginners".

This is complex and challenging beyond what I would have been able to appreciate, up until the point where I could put this into a wider context.

I think there may also be a touch of serendipity at play, as this arrived just as my palate was primed to enjoy it, with Autumn nudging it's way into my part of the world.

The Royal Brackla 12 is a very well constructed whisky, offered as an integrity presentation with NCF, 46% and no colour added, proudly displayed on the box and bottle.

I have no idea what the spirit is like underneath the finish, but this is an expertly sherried bomb. Not too sweet, but rich and characterful, with plentiful resinous fruits of both the dry and jammy variety.

The oak seems to have imparted just the right amount of spiciness, but a few drops of water do a great job of decompressing and elongating an otherwise compact experience, without dulling the edge.

Royal Brackla wasn't really on my radar, but it certainly is now.

I rate this very highly.

I wish this bottle was mine, but it's a friend's. Purchase was made after another great #amathusmuswellhill recommendation

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