Braeval 21 Year Old 1991 Brachadair

A new, Belgian independent bottler has risen to the challenge with the resounding name Brachadair (I was told this is Gaelic for Man of Malt). The bottle was presented at the Whisky Festival for Indepenent Bottlers in Grammont (Belgium), where I first tried it. I was given a sample to taste it again at home to write proper tasting notes.

The nose is very sweet, but mostly very waxy. Beeswax, dried grass, coconut milk, ginger and white pepper. Some citrus in the shape of lime, peel included. A little bitterness, a touch of sourness. Hints of oak and some vanilla that becomes louder all the time. Very accessible.

On the palate, it is waxy as well, but immediately turns very feisty. Black peppers, ginger, even some nutmeg. The fruit then takes the reigns again. White fruit, yellow fruit, both juicy and dried. Coconut, again. I quite like this.

On the long, spicy finish, I get some woodsmoke.

Well, Brachadair certainly knows how to make an entry, if you ask me. And only 79 EUR, which is hard to beat.

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