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Braeval Scotch Whisky

Distillery Style
 Tasting Notes

Nose: Cream toffees and vanilla.

Palate: Very soft, smooth mouth feel. Cream toffees, vanilla, oak and barley.

Finish: Long and malty.

Braeval Distillery, Chapeltown, Banffshire
AB5 9JS
Tel: +44 (0)1542 783342

Mothballed 2002
No Visitor Facilities

Braeval Scotch Whisky Distillery History

 
Initially called "Braes of Glenlivet", however the name was changed to “Braeval” to avoid confusion with “The Glenlivet” The Distillery claims to be the highest distillery in Scotland (355 meters above sea level) The production water comes from the Preenie and Kate's Well.

Seagrams (Owners of Chivas Brothers) built the distillery, in 1973-74 for their expansion into the Scottish whisky industry and to contribute to the Chivas Regal blend. In fact the entire output was used for blending

The architectural style of the buildings was on the lines of a traditional distillery complete with pagoda, whilst employing the most advanced modern distilling technology. No malting floors or storage capacity, all aspects of production carried out on a single floor level by a small workforce – Actually one man could operate the entire plant.

Originally there were three stills, each with the distinctive bulge in the neck known as a "Milton Ball". Two more stills were added in 1975 and another one in 1978.

During 1997 a computer control system was installed to fully operate and monitor the distillery. This meant the earlier mentioned single person could manage the whole distillery progression from his armchair; mashing, cleaning, charging and distilling was just a click of a mouse away.

Pernod Ricard acquired Seagram in 2001 and as a result became owner of Braeval. This change in ownership turned out to be disastrous for Braeval. Due to over-production the distillery was mothballed in October 2002,

All the spirit distilled went for blending primarily into Chivas Blends. There was no official distillery bottlings.

Braeval Scotch Whisky Independent bottlings

Duncan Taylor
Gordon & Macphail
Old Malt Cask (Douglas Laing),
Provenance (Douglas Laing),
Signatory

Braeval Single Malt Whisky 9 year old Sherry Cask 46%

Douglas Laing & Co.Ltd.
A bottling from one Sherry Butt: DMG REF: 2911.
Un-chillfiltered - No Colouring.
Tasting notes:-

Fragrant and perfumed in a clean, honeyed/floral and earthy style on the nose. It warms to something more toffee'd, running to a full, round body and a rich palate which is sweet, hints at chocolate, is attractively smoked - something replicated on the finish plus loads of attractive spiced fruit and fruity spice. (F)

Braeval Single Malt Whisky 11 year old Sherry Cask 46%
Provenance bottling by Douglas Laing
Small Batch Selection
Distilled Spring 1999 Bottled Winter 2010
From one Sherry Butt DMG Ref 6886

On the nose detect autumn fruits with dry spices and a barley gristiness - all "perfumed" together. On the palate anticipate crunched sugar, barley, spicy fruit and oak - all leading to a toffee,d - fruity - barleyed and lightly oaked finish. (F)

Buy Braeval single malt Scotch whisky online at whiskys.co.uk