Description
🥃Royal Brackla Aged 18 Years Palo Cortado Sherry Cask Finish Single Malt Scotch Whisky🥃
The mid-range of Royal Brackla's regular range of single malts offers something special for sherry lovers. This 18 year old single malt whisky is finished in Palo Cortado sherry casks. If that term has you scratching your head, read on.
This is a rare sherry that begins aging under floral notes with an eye toward becoming a Fino or Amontillado. To be a Palo Cortado, the vase lid must be separated, exposing the wine to the air in the barrel and promoting oxidation. The result is a sherry that falls somewhere between an Oloroso and an Amontillado. The fact that a barrel of Palo Cortado is usually the result of a twist of fate rather than design does suggest that it is an exotic beast.
Like other regular Royal Brackla malts, the 18 year old is bottled at a whopping 46% abv.
The color of this pour is pure golden yellow. A sniff in the glass reveals a very understated sherry finish; pineapple and Granny Smith apple fruit in the middle, interspersed with bourbon vanilla and light but spicy oak. However, the sherry element is more prominent on the palate, which is decidedly creamy. The fruity core becomes peach and lemon zest, the toffee adds bourbon-esque vanilla, and the spicy tingle becomes ginger. Mild oak spice continues in the finish.
While well poured, I was a little disappointed with this malt whisky. For a middle-aged whisky with the most unusual pedigree, Royal Brackla 18 Year Old is almost ordinary. There are better mid-range malt whiskys, and the Palo Cortado influence isn't as clear or strong here.
Origin : Scotland
Distillery: Royal Bracla
Type:Whisky
Style: Single Malt Whisky
Year Age : 18 Years
Barrel: Palo Cortado Sherry Cask
Alcohol : 46%vol
Bottle Size: 700ml