Single malt whisky - tasting notes

30 Dec 2009

Brora 1977 21yo (Rare Malts)

Posted by: Ruben In: Brora

This Brora 21y 1977 RM generally gets better reviews than its 1982 RM brother. The two 1972 versions in the Rare Malts collection seem to be the best though (SV scores them 96 and 97 and other MM seem to agree).

 

Brora 1977 Rare Malts Brora 21 yo 1977
(56,9%, Rare Malts 1998)

Nose: it shares a similar profile with the Brora 20 yo 1982, but this one is slightly more exotic with banana and coconut. Some juicy yellow grapes. Quite a few floral hints. It’s less austere with more spices. Wood chips. Hints of heather. No farminess and still relatively low peat levels, but complex. Mouth: very powerful, sweeter than the 1982 version, more honey and vanilla with more oak as well. The same fat, oily mouth-feel. Soft, sweet peat. A salty edge (seaweed). Spices. Lemons. Slightly nutty. Finish: a very similar peppery kick with a slightly woody / salty aftertaste.

In line with the Brora 1982, but slightly more complex and more powerful in all directions (bigger fruitiness, sweeter, more oak, but a more alcoholic character as well). Very rare now and more valuable than the 1982 version. Around € 300 unless you find an occasional bargain.

Score: 91/100

Johan, who provided my sample (thanks) has tasted a lot of Rare Malts Brora. If you understand Dutch, check out his notes.

Brora 1977 21yo (Rare Malts) 4.5 Ruben Luyten 2009-12-30
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  • http://www.onversneden.com Johan

    The more I drink this Brora, the more I like it. I even had to increase my initial score of 92 with an extra point. More complex than the 24y 1977 in my opinion, more ‘Brora’.

  • http://www.whisky-news.com Patrick

    From what I remember, it was considerably salty, more peaty and quite different from the 1982.

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  • WhiskyNotes: Thanks for your reply Selim. IMHO you don't pour a 1977 whisky into a Sauternes cask unless something was wrong with it already. So I'm not surprised
  • S.: Hello Ruben, I am writing to you concerning the point you made on this post about batch 9 of Benriach Single Casks not being a big hit and I just wan
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WhiskyNotes - Ruben LuytenThis blog is my personal collection of impressions, written while searching for the ultimate single malt whisky.