Braeval 2000/2021 Signatory Vintage 21 years old Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 59.2%

Twenty-one years in a refill sherry butt does not sound like much on paper. But a used cask works slowly, and when it finally lands, it is the distillery you taste — not the wood.

Expert description

Braeval 2000/2021 Signatory Vintage 21 Years is a Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky from Refill Sherry Butt #6392, bottled at cask strength, 59.2%, with natural colour.

The whisky was distilled on 16 February 2000 and bottled on 13 August 2021. The cask gave 592 bottles, which fits a butt of around 500 litres, and the whole run comes from the same day's production at Braeval.

A refill cask has already given most of its sherry character to an earlier filling. The whisky therefore does not turn dark and heavy but keeps Braeval's light, floral style with a quiet sherry note underneath.

Tasting notes

Nose

Baked apple and heather with a layer of dried apricot, almond and pale oak.

Palate

Concentrated and malty with honey, nuts and a fine fruit acidity. The alcohol is high, but the fruit keeps pace.

Finish

Long and dry with nuts, grain and a last sweetness from the sherry cask.

Specifications

Name: Braeval 2000/2021 Signatory Vintage 21 Years Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 59.2%
Distillery: Braeval
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 21 years
ABV: 59,2%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Refill Sherry Butt #6392
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 16/02/2000
Bottled: 13/08/2021
Number of bottles: 592
EAN no.: 5021944114368

Flavour profile

Fruity · Nutty · Floral · Sherried · Powerful

Investment potential

Medium. A single cask bottling of 592 bottles of a spirit almost never released officially, from a vintage now more than twenty years back.

Did you know?

Braeval was built in 1973 alongside another Chivas distillery, Allt-a-Bhainne, for the single purpose of supplying more malt to blends. Neither has ever carried a permanent official range.

See our full range of Braeval
See our full range of Signatory Vintage

Listen to our podcast:

Frequently asked questions about Braeval 2000/2021 Signatory Vintage 21 Years Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 59.2%

What is the difference between a refill and a first fill sherry butt?

A first fill cask has just held sherry and gives generously: dark fruit, nuts and colour. A refill cask has held whisky at least once before and works more slowly, so the spirit's own character takes up more room.

Is it worth the money?

Twenty-one years in a single cask from a distillery with no official range, bottled at cask strength with natural colour. There are 592 bottles, and no more will follow.

How much water can it take?

At 59.2% there is room for a fair amount. Work drop by drop — around 48 to 50% is often where the fruit opens most.

What does natural colour mean?

That no caramel colouring has been added. The hue comes entirely from the cask, and a pale colour after twenty-one years tells you the cask was a quiet one.

How does Braeval compare with other Speyside malts?

Lighter and more floral than its sherry-heavy neighbours. The distillery sits high in the hills, and the style is grassy and fresh with a fine fruitiness.

Can two casks filled on the same day taste different?

Yes, often noticeably. The cask's previous contents, its position in the warehouse and the structure of the wood itself mean two casks filled the same day can develop very differently.