Whisky Review: Royal Brackla 16-Year-Old

Sips very cleanly, as the nose would suggest. Full fruity notes of dry sherry without being overly sweet. Quite dry. Malty cereal grains and dried fruits. Bit of prune and baked fig. Coats the inside of the mouth like a fine amaretto. Dryness carries over into the finish. Cocoa nibs arriving late. Burn of medium to light intensity, but lasts a fairly decent amount of time. Fairly straightforward and not overly complicated, but with good flavors and balance. Final Thoughts & Score: Score: 85/100 Royal Brackla is one of “those” labels. You know the ones I mean. The ones where it is fairly uncommon to stumble upon, but a friend of a friend swears it is the only spirit worth drinking. In my previous experience, I found their 12 year old release to be far too uneven for my taste. With the 16-year-old version, I was much more pleased with the overall experience. The whisky is easy sipping and clean. It is what many would describe as an “everyday whisky,” though I feel a $130 price point tends to frame this as a more premium release before popping the cork. A little more bang for the buck would be welcome here. Sadly, not bottling this version at 43% or 46% ABV feels like a sorely missed opportunity.