Which Brora to buy

[vizilo]

Hi All !

I am thinking of buying a Brora but without spending a fortune, so I took a look at the following ones:

G&M Connoisseur's Choice 24yo 1982-2006 43%
Dun Bhegan 23yo 1981-2005 48%
Chieftain's 24yo 1981-2006 46% cream sherry butt cask #1522

Any opinions on one of these?

Thank you in advance for your help.

Marc

[The Third Dram]

No funny cream sherry finish.

I agree. I did go through an OMC release of Brora that had been aged in Sherry wood, but I firmly believe the cask must have been a second-fill, so delicate was the wine influence. And as far as this superb coastal malt goes, I feel the less 'wine interference' the better.

Any way you might be able to pre-test prior to purchasing?

[Ganga]

Two answers:

1. Buy 'em all!

2. Dun Bheagan. I find that peated whiskies perform better at higher proof.

[vision*R]

I have never been impressed by a Dun Bheagan bottling (I've had 6 or 7 in different price ranges). So I'm not tempted to buying them.

I would wait and get a more expensive (better) bottling. The OB's and Rare Malt Brora's are rather excellent.

[vizilo]

Thank you all for your remarks. I just found another one, what about

Douglas Laing OMC 19yo 1982-2001 Sherry Cask 50% ?

Pretasting is not possible unfortunately, because these bottlings are not available in Hungary. I have to import from Germany or UK.

[The Third Dram]

Douglas Laing OMC 19yo 1982-2001 Sherry Cask 50%?

This sounds eerily similar (although, of course, one cannot be 100% sure of such things when it comes to single cask issues) to the 1981-2000 OMC bottling with which I've had many a pleasant experience.

That one was quite tasty, with the Sherry influence not appearing (as I've stated above) overbearing.

However, some of those Rare Malts Selection releases (especially the sublime 1977!) were, in comparison to the OMC, VERY special.

Not like it's becoming any easier these days to happen upon top-notch Broras, though.

[Spirit of Islay]

Don't know if this is the one Vizilo....

Expression - Brora OMC 1982
Year - 1982
Age - 19yo
ABV - 50%
Cask / Bottle No. - Sherry butt / 1 of 744
Colour - Bright Gold
Nose - Starts off as Marmalade on Toast , then a touch of fishermans friends . Smoke , spices , dried fruits and the usual Sherry casks / Christmas cake smells . To say it's only 50% it tickles the nasal hair .
Palate - Pretty Strong on the palate , pretty much the same as the nose but with peppermint / humbug .
Finish - Long Peppermint and Fishermans Friend .
Comments - Distilled November 1982 , Bottled November 2001 . Says "Matured in Sherry Cask" but going off the colour must be 2nd fill . A very good Brora , more on par with 1970's Brora than 1980's that i've had , on the whole doesn't disappoint !

[jazz lover]

S o I
I have the same bottle many thanks for the notes.

[vizilo]

@Spirit of Islay

Yes that's the one. Thanks a lot for your notes, pretty convincing. Now I know what to order.