Braeval 2000/2023 Signatory Vintage 23 Year Old Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky 60.4%

The last of three sister casks from the same February day in 2000. This one was left two years longer than the others, and the difference shows: more spice, more depth, less hurry.

Expert description

Braeval 2000/2023 Signatory Vintage 23 Years is a Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky from Refill Oloroso Sherry Butt #6391, bottled at cask strength, 60.4%, without chill filtration and without added colour.

The whisky was distilled on 16 February 2000 and bottled on 3 April 2023 as part of Signatory Vintage's Cask Strength Collection. The cask gave 603 bottles.

Braeval, formerly Braes of Glenlivet, sits high in Speyside and is one of those distilleries found almost only in independent bottlings. High age combined with a quiet oloroso cask gives fruity complexity rather than heavy sherry sweetness.

Tasting notes

Nose

Dried fruit and toffee apples with clove and lime zest on top.

Palate

Flower honey and baking spice with dried apricot, walnut and a firm oak core. Powerful, but never coarse.

Finish

Long and spiced with nuts, dark honey and a dry, warm close.

Specifications

Name: Braeval 2000/2023 Signatory Vintage 23 Years Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky 60.4%
Distillery: Braeval
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 23 years
ABV: 60,4%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Refill Oloroso Sherry Butt #6391
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 16/02/2000
Bottled: 03/04/2023
Number of bottles: 603
Edition: Cask Strength Collection

Flavour profile

Sherried · Spiced · Fruity · Nutty · Powerful

Investment potential

Medium. 23 years, a single cask and 603 bottles from a distillery that does not release single malt itself. Signatory's Cask Strength Collection sees steady demand from collectors.

Did you know?

Oloroso sherry is aged oxidatively, that is, in contact with air, which gives nut and dried fruit rather than fresh grape notes. That is why oloroso casks are the most widely used sherry type for whisky.

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Frequently asked questions about Braeval 2000/2023 Signatory Vintage 23 Years Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky 60.4%

What separates it from the other Braeval casks from the same day?

Two extra years in wood and an oloroso cask rather than a neutral refill butt. That gives more spice and dried fruit, where the younger sister casks are fresher and more apple-driven.

Why does it say 23 years when it was distilled in 2000 and bottled in 2023?

Because there are just over 23 years between the two dates. The age statement on a whisky is always the full time in cask, rounded down to the nearest whole year.

Is it worth the money?

The age, the single cask and the distillery's unavailability are what carry the bottle. Braeval goes almost entirely into blends, so single malt from it exists only in small volumes.

How much water should go in?

Try it in three stages: neat, one teaspoon of water, then two. At 60.4% the whisky changes markedly along the way, and it is a good way to find your own point.

Can it be used in a tasting?

Yes, it works well as the powerful close to a flight. Place it after lighter Speyside malts and the spice comes through more clearly.

What does Cask Strength Collection mean?

Signatory's series of single casks bottled without dilution. The series has run since the 1990s and is recognised by its plain label carrying cask number and dates.