Brora releases 44YO anniversary whisky
Diageo’s Brora distillery has unveiled a 44-year-old distillery-exclusive whisky to celebrate the third anniversary of its reopening.
Brora distillery reopened three years ago in May 2021, following its closure in 1983. To celebrate the anniversary, the distillery has launched its second limited edition bottling, exclusively available at the distillery. The 44-year-old Untold Depths was distilled in 1977, aged in Warehouse 1 and celebrates the ‘age of peat’ from 1969-1981. The single-cask release is offered at 49.1% ABV and limited to 150 bottles. Available from July, each bottle will cost £10,000 (US$12,700). “The second in a series of releases from the distillery, Untold Depths is a classic pairing of a gentle cask and medium peating, which explores the full depth of taste of which Brora is capable,” said Dr Craig Wilson, master blender. “On the nose, the whisky holds waxy hints of fragrant incense and green grape skins drift through light peat smoke, then dried herb and scented oil slowly rising through a swirl of buttery toffee. Waxy-smooth, the sweet, lightly fruity taste reaches a long and fragrant finish with a pinch of white pepper.” The first new distillates from the reopened distillery have now reached the three-year mark that transforms new-make spirit into Scotch whisky. The casked whisky will not be bottled for many years but can be sampled as part of the distillery’s five-hour Eras of Brora tour, which costs £900 (US$1,145) per person. “A historic milestone: three years on since the Wildcat Gates reopened, our new-make spirit is coming of age,” said Andrew Flatt, host at Brora Distillery. “This year, what lies in the casks at Brora can finally be called Scotch whisky. We see this as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for guests to be among the first in the world to sample this whisky in more than 40 years." “It is an honour to present three different styles of spirit to aficionados, collectors and fans of Brora who choose to visit our Highland home.” Last year, Brora donated a 50-year-old single malt, Iris, to the Distillers One of One auction.
