Braeval 1998 (G&M Connoisseurs Choice)

Braeval may not be the sexiest name in the first batch of the renewed Connoisseurs Choice range from Gordon & MacPhail, but we’ve had quite a lot of nicely fruity expressions from Braes of Glenlivet before.

Braeval 20 yo 1998 (59%, Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseurs Choice 2018, refill American hogshead #26004, 185 btl.)

Nose: slightly heady, with fruity notes but also polished wood, even a hint of nail polish remover (an asset here). Dried flowers and grassy notes. Haribo sweets. Juicy pears, a little kiwi and banana. Touches of white rum and light vanilla.

Mouth: honeyed and malty, with lots of lime and lemon, peaches and Granny Smith apples. Fresh. Then some polished oak again, as well as vanilla and crystallized oranges. Always bright and elegant.

Finish: medium long. The floral notes make a come-back, as well as some mint and lemon.

Quite good again: fresh, fairly simple but perfectly spotless. Around € 140, sold out in most places but you could check LMdW for instance.

Score: 86/100