Royal Brackla 16 Year

I recently tried The Deveron 12 and 18, which were quite disappointing. Not to be deterred, I’m giving Bacardi another attempt with the now discontinued Royal Brackla 16 year. That’s really the only reason I bought this. That’s a good reason right? They decide to stop producing this stuff, so I figure it must be worth a buy. That’s the completionist in me. Let’s see what we’re working with here. Nose: Vanilla, toffee, and caramel. Toasted almond and walnut. Butterscotch. Pretty standard stuff. Apricot. Orange peel. White grape and golden raisin. Black pepper and oak. Pencil shavings and lumber. Mocha. Palate: Brown sugar, caramel, vanilla, and toffee. Apple, pear, apricot, and white grape. Raisin. Sugar cookie. Unripe banana. Flax seed. Malt and grain. White pepper, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and oak. Wood and pencil shavings. Finish: Brown sugar, caramel, vanilla, and toffee. Apple, raisin, grape, and pear. Sugar cookie. More pencil shavings. Clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, white pepper, and oak. Moderate length. This is a solid blend of orchard fruit and dessert sweetness. It’s full-bodied and balanced. Even though Bacardi once again cuts corners at 40% ABV here, this does suffer from the bland, thin profile of The Deveron releases. This is a nice display of the Highland character, with the welcome addition of some plush notes from the Olorosso sherry butts. Now for the final verdict. On its face, I scored this a 3.75. Above average nose, palate, and finish. As for value for money, this is a respectable 16 years old, but a meager 40% ABV. I wouldn’t dock it for alone, but it failed to be reach very good or great in any of the three phases of testing, and I suspect it’s the lack of oomph where it counts. So it falls just a tad short of value for money at $150. 3.5/5. The bar is high at this price point. Solid stuff.

This distillery is consistently unable to impress me. The whiskies aren't bad at all, but they are all too unexciting. This expression, like the 21-year-old, lacks character, and I would not purchase them. Bottled at 40% ABV Nose: Orange marmalade, oranges coated in chocolate, caramel, and orange candy. Not bad. Palate: Artificial flavors, spicy "crazy dips," excessive oak, and a cloying sensation without being overly sweet. Finish has a chocolate note, very short. Overall, I give this dram a fair 74 out of 100.

A truly peculiar whiskey. I'm undecided on whether I like it or not: there's a malty quality I really appreciate, akin to drinking beer, but I question the cask selection – I can't get past a hint of decaying wood. Further exploration reveals notes of apples and walnuts that don't seem to harmonize. And while the conclusion is pleasant and reminiscent of a fantastic white ale, the journey to get there was too unusual.

Notes of orchard fruit, a whisper of smoke, and a touch of floral on the aroma, with honey and citrus following on the taste. The finish is brief and has a hint of bitter malt. It's alright, but not remarkable.

Incredible, a touch sweet, exceptionally smooth, with minimal alcohol heat (virtually absent), and a whisper of smoke (perhaps none). It doesn't quite match the Balvenie 21, but it's very near. The B21 offers more burn.

The aroma presents caramel, citrus, and floral notes. It's smooth on the palate with a sweet fruitiness, but unfortunately, a drying, somewhat sulfurous woody aftertaste detracts from it.