Royal Brackla forever linked to blended Scotch?
You can always count on Archives to deliver very pure and distillate driven single malt whisky. Like the sample we have on the table today, from the Royal Brackla Distillery. With a capacity of 4,3 million litres per annum, the site in Cawdor (Nairn) is an important element in the machinery of John Dewar & Sons, owned by Bacardi. In recent years, we have seen multiple official releases of this once quite rare single malt. On the other hand, I can’t say this has caused a lot of waves. Still, this well over 200 years old distillery is gently purring away. We can only hope that one day Royal Brackla will be open to visitors. The distillery has the distinct honour of producing one of the key malts used in the very first Scottish blends in the mid-1800s, done by the famous Usher family.
Royal Brackla 16 years old, bottled at 52,4 % abv by Archives
First things first: This Royal Brackla was distilled on 24 March 2009 and bottled just three days after turning 16 years old, on 27 March 2025. The whisky matured in bourbon barrel # 304129 and the yield was 164 bottles. Bottled in the Fishes of Samoa series.
Upon Sipping: Is this your typical blenders whisky? It has a very floral and light character upon first nosing, obviously infused with a lot of vanilla. A very clean experience. The taste is more impressive in that it offers a balanced sweetness, vanilla indeed, and candylike flavours. On the exit you notice the wood impact from 16 years of maturation. It is not often that I am done in four lines with describing a whisky, but this Royal Brackla is just so damn straight and focused. With water, the sweetness becomes even bolder, but it is not really a fruity sweetness. More oak spices this time round. The finish lingers pleasantly while you prepare for the next sip.
Word to the Wise: Archives is the champion of non-offensive, clean single malt whisky releases. You will find no fault in this Royal Brackla, but at the same time also nothing special. This is just a good whisky, no questions asked.
Score: 84 points.