4
Expressions
4
With Tasting Notes
100%
Completeness
About
One of the most storied distilleries in Scotch whisky, Brora was originally founded in 1819 as Clynelish by the Duke of Sutherland. When Diageo built a new Clynelish distillery next door in 1967-68, the old distillery was renamed Brora and repurposed to produce heavily peated malt as a substitute during the Islay peat-malt shortage of the 1970s. It was mothballed in 1983, but its remaining stocks became some of the most coveted single malts in the world -- Brora bottlings from the peated 1970s era regularly fetch thousands at auction. Diageo announced its reopening in 2017 as part of a 35 million pound investment alongside Port Ellen, and Brora returned to production in 2021 with its original pair of pot stills carefully restored. The reopened distillery produces a waxy, subtly peated Highland malt, honoring its legendary character. Brora's resurrection is one of the great comeback stories in Scotch whisky.
Production Details
Owner
Diageo plc
Parent Company
Diageo plc
Status
Active
Founded
1819
Still Type
Pot
Stills
2
Capacity
0.8M LPA
Water Source
Clynemilton Burn
Limited / Special Releases4
Brora 40 Year Old 200th Anniversary
4049.2% ABV2022$5500-7000
12 American oak hogsheads (distilled 1978)
4/4 Tasting
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Sight
Clear amber with fine beading; full body. The 1978 distillation in American oak hogsheads creates a classic amber appearance
Smell
Sweet smoky peat wafts, treacle toffee, ripe figs, raisins. With water, sacking and sweet notes emerge. Complex and inviting
Sip
Waxy texture with sweet and savoury smoke, dates, white pepper and a minty note. With water the complexity opens further. The famous Brora waxy-peaty character in full expression
Savor
Long, rich and sweetly warming. Persistent smoke, wax, dates and treacle. One of the great commemorative Brora releases
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Smoke House: Peat (sweet smoky peat); Sweet Shop: treacle toffee; Greengrocer: Orchard (ripe figs, dates), Dried (raisins); Library: wax; Natural Foods: Spices (white pepper); Garden Path: mint; Walk to Lighthouse: Stone (mineral)
Brora Triptych Age of Peat 43 Year Old
4348.6% ABV2021$10000-12000
Casks from 1977 peated era
4/4 Tasting
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Sight
Rich gold with amber highlights; medium-full body. The heavily peated 1977 distillation has mellowed into a complex amber gold over 43 years
Smell
Vanilla, green apples and hints of beeswax. The peat smoke has softened into something ethereal after four decades. Elegant and layered
Sip
Sweet with long peaty smoke finish. The heavily peated malt from the 1977 era is now beautifully integrated — smoke as a whisper rather than a shout. Fruit and wax balanced by gentle peat
Savor
Long, sweet finish with peaty smoke. The famous Brora peat character is present but transformed by 43 years into something refined and haunting
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Smoke House: Peat (peaty smoke, integrated peat); Sweet Shop: vanilla; Greengrocer: Orchard (green apple); Library: beeswax; Garden Path: floral
Brora Triptych Elusive Legacy 48 Year Old
4842.8% ABV2021$10000-12000
Casks from 1972 (oldest Brora public release)
4/4 Tasting
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Sight
Warm chestnut with deep amber tones; full body. The oldest public release from Brora — 48 years has created a deep, rich colour
Smell
Delicate blend of wood spice with hints of peach tarte tatin. Earthy and complex with remarkable restraint for such an aged whisky
Sip
Earthy and complex with peach, tarte tatin sweetness, aged wood spice and subtle waxy Highland character. The 1972 spirit retains remarkable vitality
Savor
Extraordinarily long with waves of earthy complexity, peach sweetness and ancient wood spice. A once-in-a-lifetime expression
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Greengrocer: Orchard (peach); Bakery: tarte tatin; Forest Trail: earthy; Natural Foods: Spices (wood spice); Library: wax; Furniture Maker: Wood (aged wood)
Brora Triptych Timeless Original 38 Year Old
3847.5% ABV2021$10000-12000
Refill American oak casks (distilled 1982)
4/4 Tasting
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Sight
Glowing yellow gold; medium body. The 1982 distillation in refill American oak preserves the spirit's natural pale colour
Smell
Sherberty lemon peel and fresh green grass. Light and elegant with the characteristic Brora restraint. Citrus brightness from nearly four decades of slow maturation
Sip
Delicate yet complex with lemon sherbet, green grass, subtle waxiness and gentle oak spice. The refill cask allows the spirit character to dominate — pure Brora elegance
Savor
Long and refined with persistent lemon peel, grassy freshness and a whisper of waxy Highland character
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Greengrocer: Citrus (lemon peel, lemon sherbet); Garden Path: green grass; Library: wax; Furniture Maker: Wood (oak); Natural Foods: Spices (oak spice)