Scotland, Northern Highlands. Distillery closed. Owner: Diageo

In the midst of the 1980s economic crisis, further accentuated by several decades of overproduction, Brora, like many Scottish distilleries, was forced to close on 17 March 1983. Founded in 1819 by the Marquess of Stafford in the village of Brora (Sutherland), it was originally named Clynelish. Swept up in the euphoria of the period following the end of WWII, the owners decided to increase its production capacity in 1967, building a new cutting edge production unit on the same site, dubbed Clynelish #2. To prevent confusion between the two distilleries, the historic site was renamed Brora in 1969 and its malt adopted a very peaty profile up until the late 1970s. For purists and “taste historians”, the 50s and 60s versions of Clynelish #1 (Clynelish 12 Year old Ainslie & Heilbron Distillers, Spring Cap, Clynelish 24 Year Old Cadenhead, Clynelish 28 Year old 1965 Signatory Vintage) have become so impossible to find that most would never even hope to experience them. The peated versions from the 1970s and more specifically those from 1972 (Brora 22 Year Old Rare Malts Selection 60.02% and Brora Old Map Label Connoisseurs Choice Gordon & MacPhail) are still available and an absolute must-have for any self-respecting enthusiast or collector.

A Brora 32 year old bottled at cask strength in 2011 for the Diageo Special Release collection, an annual range that showcases outstanding whiskies from the group’’s open and closed distilleries. The first Brora in this range was released in 2002 and the last in 2017. When it was released, this was the distillery’’s oldest official bottling. A limited edition of 1,500 bottles.