Thursday, May 11, 2017

OLDEST OFFICIAL BOTTLING OF BRORA TO BE AUCTIONED OFF AT BONHAMS

Diageo has announced that its oldest official bottling of Brora single malt Scotch whisky, will go on under the hammer at auction next week, at Bonhams in Hong Kong.

Collectors of rare malts and investors from around the globe are expected to battle it out to secure the highly desirable bottle of 1972 Brora, which was drawn from an ex-sherry cask.

Brora 1972 - 44 Year Old

Originally known as the Clynelish Distillery, production began in Brora Distillery on the north-east coast of Scotland in 1819 with the backing of the Marquess of Stafford. In the late 1960s it was decided to expand production by building a new distillery, with the old distillery eventually being used to supply a need for heavily peated whisky for blending.

Between 1972-74 production of ‘Brora’ was in batches, becoming regular in 1975 when the distillery itself was officially renamed Brora. It was however only produced until 1983, when the distillery was mothballed never to reopen.

This 44 Year Old Brora, is described as “a massive, brooding and drying old Brora that it is seemingly made of smoke, oak, pepper, dark fruit all encrusted in sea-salt then wrapped in seaweed and oilskins”.

Commenting on the news, Dr Nick Morgan, Head of Whisky Outreach at Diageo, said: “It is both the first and last of its kind, and represents the pinnacle of Diageo’s single malt Scotch whisky reserves. We’ve seen a rapid growth of interest in rare and collectable whiskies, and this bottle of 1972 Brora is the epitome of that. The auction is not just a once in a generation opportunity, it is also a chance for some to own an exquisite single malt with unparalleled history and heritage.”

The 1972 Brora bottling, will be auctioned off next Friday, May 19th at Bonhams in Hong Kong.

Posted by Steve Rush