Three years since Brora’s doors reopened, and spirit began to flow from its stills once more, the slumbering casks in the distillery’s warehouse now officially contain scotch whisky rather than new-make spirit.
The birthday of these 2021 casks signals a new era for Brora Distillery, a milestone that is being celebrated with the release of the Brora 44 Year Old Untold Depths. Costing £10,000 per bottle, the distillery exclusive bottling pays tribute to Brora’s past and looks to the future.
Brora 44 Year Old Untold Depths
Bottled from historic Brora stock, the 44 Year Old Untold Depths was matured in Brora’s Warehouse No.1, which has been home to many of the distillery’s most beloved casks throughout the decades.
The whisky that makes up this stunning new release was distilled in 1977, six years before Brora’s doors closed for what would become a 38-year period of silence.
The whisky was patiently matured for 44 years before being bottled from single cask #2637 at a cask strength of 49.1% ABV. Only 150 bottles were yielded from the single cask and will be available exclusively at the distillery from July onwards.
Of the new release, Dr. Craig Wilson, Master Blender said: “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. 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.”
Brora’s New Age of Peat
Not only is the 44 Year Old whisky some of the oldest age-statement Brora ever bottled (the oldest being the Brora Iris at 50 years old), it was also distilled during the distillery’s ‘Age of Peat’. Between 1969 and 1981, Brora produced peated whisky at the distillery. As Brora enters its new era, this old-style whisky is being recreated in the stillhouse, signaling a coming ‘New Age of Peat’.
The whisky filled into the 2021 casks is not yet ready for bottling – we assume Brora will want to age the whisky a lot further before the inaugural release – however, those lucky enough to visit the distillery will have an opportunity to sample it.
Trending Stories
Guests who embark upon the Eras of Brora tour from July onwards will be given a small sample of the maturing scotch whisky as an exclusive glimpse into the future of this storied distillery.
Brora Distillery Host, Andrew Flatt, said: “A historic milestone, three years on since the Wildcat Gates reopened, our new make spirit is coming of age. This year, what lies in the casks at Brora can finally be called Scotch whisky. We see this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for guests to be amongst the first in the world to sample this whisky in over forty 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.”
Brora Is Back
Brora Distillery, located in the far north of the Scottish Highlands, was mothballed in 1983 during the Whisky Loch of the 1980s. In 2017, Diageo revealed plans to renovate and reopen Brora, as well as the Port Ellen Distillery on Islay.
In 2021, Brora finally reopened its doors following a multi-million-pound investment and released the Brora Triptych in celebration.
Brora Distillery is intrinsically linked to its sister plant, Clynelish. Find out more about these twin distilleries here.
Latest News