Braes of Glenlivet (Braeval) 1975/2021 G&M # 15370 PVC Private Collection

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 45.6% | Chill filtration: No | Colouring: No

Special Features:

A single Refill American Hogshead shaped this Single Malt throughout its 46 years of maturation. Distilled in 1975, the whisky was bottled by Gordon & MacPhail on 30 December 2021 for the Private Collection. Cask 15370 yielded 120 bottles worldwide at a natural cask strength of 45.6%.

The term Refill denotes a cask previously used to mature whisky. Here, lengthy maturation combines with fruity, floral and spicy impressions: vanilla and autumn fruit are as much part of the character as dark chocolate and oak. This golden whisky is non-chill-filtered and contains no colouring. The 0.7-litre bottle is presented in a wood-grain case, with dark blue labels and gold-coloured accents completing the presentation.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: Sweet vanilla appears first on the nose, before ripe autumn fruit and subtle nutmeg spice join in. Delicate jasmine notes develop in the background alongside toasted oak.
• Palate: Smooth dark chocolate, Seville oranges and red apple come together on the palate. Apricot jam is followed by a delicate sweet note of dried tobacco and oak flavours.
• Finish: Spicy pepper gives way to a lingering menthol finish.

Distillery/Bottler:

Braes of Glenlivet was founded in Speyside in 1973 and named after its location. Even before Scotland's Excise Act of 1823, the remote Braes sheltered numerous illicit distilleries from the authorities. The distillery has been called Braeval since 1995; the name change was intended to avoid confusion with other distilleries in the surrounding area. This vintage was distilled under the original name.

Gordon & MacPhail is the independent bottler of this edition and traces its roots to the shop on South Street in Elgin, established in 1895. The company matches spirits from different Scottish distilleries with its own casks, made to its specifications, and oversees their maturation until they are selected for bottling. For the Private Collection, members of the owning Urquhart family select long-matured Single Malts from well-known, lesser-known and closed distilleries.

Facts: