Brora 30 Year Old bottled 2009

Nose: Mild peat, vinegar, black pepper, tart orange peel, cut grass, charcoal, brine, a faint whiff of wet hay. Additionally, there are sweeter notes like malted milk balls, vanilla custard, and lemon tart. The oak is nicely balanced.

Taste: At first, sweet malt, toffee, almonds, crème brûlée, dark and bitter chocolate, browned butter, charred thyme leaves, lemon juice fading into lime zest, and a little peat.

Finish: This is where this whisky shines and it's maritime nature develops. Very peppery and assertive, freshly cut grass, vinegar, mushrooms, oak soaked in sea water, ocean air. Gradually, peat smoke and burning leaves become more imposing. What seems like hours later, smoked paprika emerges.

Ok, so I know that the 2009 edition isn't everyone's favorite. Upon initial sniff and taste, I felt it was simply above average. Over time (about 45 minutes) and with a small amount of water, I witnessed this whisky evolve over and over, and become more than above average. The finish is what really impressed me the most about this whisky. I've never seen so many flavors develop assertively on a finish. It was remarkable. I was sitting on my couch, picking out flavors of the finish, and maybe a couple minutes later, I was thinking, "hang on, this thing is still going!" Anyway, my next purchase will be the 2004 edition, as I hear great things about it.

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