Rolling Cask Royal Brackla 11 Year Old

Kung Fu? Another superb single cask, 100% first fill bourbon cask matured Highland Whisky from Rolling Cask!

Our Members Extra for August is the Rolling Cask Royal Brackla 11-Year-Old. A single cask matured Highland whisky distilled in 2011 and disgorged in 2022. This 11 year old Royal Brackla is 100% Single Cask, 1st fill ex-Bourbon matured, Highland whisky – and is absolutely packed with all the Quercus alba goodness you’re looking for.

Another in the ‘Kung Fu’ range from Rolling Cask indy bottlers – this time whisky from Highland distillery that (in this guys opinion) we don’t see half enough down under – Royal Brackla!

We ran the 12 year old Linkwood edition of the earlier in the year, and this is another in their of their 3-part ‘Kung Fu’ series featuring seriously cool (for the Kung Fu movie geeks at least) ‘Kung Fu’ graphic labels. But not only are the labels fantastic – more importantly the whisky inside is sensational – and priced incredibly well to boot.

Royal Brackla is a Highland distillery and was the first distillery to be granted a ‘Royal Warrant’ (in 1833, by King William IV), – thus first to be able to use ’Royal’ in their name which they still proudly promote.

Royal Brackla is part of the Bacardi-owned John Dewar & Sons portfolio (along with Aberfeldy, Aultmore, Craigellachie, and The Deveron). Whilst not exactly ‘rare’ – Royal Brackla Single Malt is not all that common either. The reason being is that the vast majority of Royal Brackla spirit goes into blends (especially Dewar’s), so its single malt releases have been less common on shelves.

Nose: Fruity, herbaceous and creamy

Palate: An initial wave of ginger spice precedes a big hit of green apple, with sultanas, candied peel, vanilla pods, wafts of jasmine and biscuit spices bringing up the rear.

Finish: Richly mouth-coating, yet deliciously crisp (think granny smith rather than pink lady) apple notes, more of those biscuit spices, glimpses of custard, ginger notes and vanilla to boot. Nice length with just the merest (palate cleansing) astringency.

Classic ex-bourbon maturation here… AND LOVING IT! So fruity, so creamy… big citrus, luscious vanilla and herbaceous floral notes in spades.

Nose: Gentle and crisp, leafy, spices.
Palate: Medium bodied with notes of cut grass, spices, malt and fruit. Creamy.
Finish: Balanced and barley driven, spiced.