Braes of Glenlivet was built in the 1973, but its name was changed in 1995 to Braeval. The owner, Seagram, also owned The Glenlivet and wanted to strengthen this brand a little by removing other references to Glenlivet. The distillery, which produces mainly for blends, was closed in 2001 and re-opened in 2008. It has never been highly regarded as a single malt though.

Braes of Glenlivet 21 yo 1991 (47,4%, Master of Malt 2012, first-fill bourbon barrel, 251 btl.)

Nose: interesting nose, on sweet vanilla and tropical fruits like mango, banana and kiwi. Hints of creamy coconut. Quite some oak polish as well, maybe even some (nice) wood glue. Not only sweetness though, it’s balanced by mint, hints of heather honey and soft mineral touches. Mouth: still sweet, but also more peppery and grainy than expected. Lemon. Mint again. Vanilla and honey. Some floral notes and nutmeg. Finish: medium long. Fruity for a while, then drying on cocoa and spices from the oak.

A great surprise. Modern whisky with extras. Creamy, fruity and other secondary notes, what’s not to like? Around € 75, available from Master of Malt.

Score: 88/100