The second from the set that came with the glasses and pitcher.
Braeval 7, 2012 Vintage, Scotch Malt Whisky Society 113.37, Speyside Single Malt, 64.1% ABV
Minutia: Distilled in August 2012 and matured in a 2nd-fill barrel for 7 years. This is part of the Spicy & Sweet flavor profile named “Picking fruit from an oak tree”. Enjoyed neat in a glencairn.
Taste: Warming, ginny malt. Something similar to an apple. Banana-ish. Slight spice.
Finish: Hot. More malt (but normal malt, not the variety in the taste). Chocolate, coffee. Medium.
It’s pretty nice, but unremarkable. Youth comes through a bit more than I’d like, at least from a flavor profile that isn’t typically to my preference.
Score: 76
Musical Evocation: The Ting Tings – “Fruit Machine”
The first of the bottles I’ve bought from them that I’ve reviewed. I bought this at a preview tasting and I was very surprised that one of the two bottles shown that night that I felt I needed to buy was an unpeated Speyside. Let’s just say that historically they aren’t my favorite. But I did like it enough to buy a bottle. Was it the right call, or was that tasting just too generous with the pours?
Minutia: Distilled on October 5, 2005 and matured in an ex-Bourbon hogshead for 11 years, then in a 1st fill red wine barrique yielding 237 bottles. This is part of the Spicy & Sweet flavor profile named “I caught the darkness...”. Enjoyed neat in a glencairn.
Finish: Long, hot, musty and malty. Similar sensation when breathing that you get after a mint.
Aside from its own merits, I like this as a change from my standard smoky leanings. I enjoyed this one so much more than anything in this realm it’s what encouraged me to look beyond peat into what characteristics are similar in drams I like and to start tracking scores and averaging based on casks, peatiness, and beyond, something I’m glad I started doing.
Score: 89
Musical Evocation: Anyone – “I Shot the Sheriff” (just because I can’t help but read the name in that melody)
